to buttress a claim
- phrasal verb
- /ˈbʌtrəs ə kleɪm/
- Formal
- He cited multiple expert opinions to buttress his claim that climate change is accelerating.
Examples
-
Britain put much greater weight on trying to secure at least a semblance of UN Security Council authorization in order to buttress the claim that the war was legal.
Academic text (2014) -
To buttress their claims, they have invariably relied on the Wall Street Journal report showing a disparity in success rates.
Academic text (2017) -
In short, there is ample evidence in the NAEP 1997 Arts Report Card to buttress the claim that standardizing authenticity may be an oxymoron.
Academic text (1999) -
Buttressing the claim that Mexicans/Chicanos, and today also Central Americans and Andean peoples, are in a state of insurrection is that they arguably constitute peoples that either are from the north or were driven north to the lands of the Chichimecas, in what is today the United States.
Academic text (2017) -
To buttress their claims, the researchers presented several studies that supported their findings.
-
In her presentation, she provided statistics to buttress her claim about the rise in renewable energy usage.
Synonyms
∞
3.1
To show that something is true by giving facts or reasons
328
2.1
Give facts or evidence that show a claim is true
207
4.1
To show something is true using evidence
104
9.0
Use evidence to show that a statement or idea is true
85
3.7
To give reasons to support or oppose an idea
43
7.2
To show that something is true by giving proof or facts
37
8.6
To show someone or something was right and not to blame
33
4.7
Show by facts that something is true
33
4.2
Gather and organize facts and evidence to support a claim or accusation
14
6.3
Support an idea or argument with facts and reasons
10
4.7
To support an idea or claim with evidence
9
7.1
To make an argument or idea stronger by adding facts
3
9.1
Give reasons or examples to support an idea
To give facts or details to show that something is true
Antonyms
How Supported
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to support or strengthen an argument' is directly compositional from 'buttress' (to support or bolster) and 'claim' (a statement). Although 'buttress' has an architectural origin, the verb sense of providing support is literal and predictable, so a learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Buttress a claim comes from building work: a buttress is a strong stone support put against a wall to hold it up, and a claim is an idea someone says is true. That's why to buttress a claim means to add evidence or reasons to 'support' the idea and make it stronger.