bolster

As a verb, this word conveys a sense of adding structural or emotional reinforcement to something that might otherwise be weak or unstable. It is frequently used in professional or formal contexts, such as strengthening a legal case, a financial position, or a political argument, suggesting a strategic addition of support. When applied to people, it describes the act of lifting spirits or confidence, often through external validation or encouragement. As a noun, it refers to a specific type of long, cylindrical pillow, shifting the meaning from an abstract action of support to a physical object that provides it.