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to buttress a claim

to buttress a claim

6.7
To give more evidence or reasons to make a claim stronger
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈbʌtrəs ə kleɪm/
  • Formal
translation icon : sustentar una afirmación
  • 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

to prove
vsto buttress a claim
3.1

To show that something is true by giving facts or reasons

focuses on strengthening an argument with more reasons rather than fully demonstrating truth
to support
vsto buttress a claim
572 2.1

Give facts or evidence that show a claim is true

emphasizes strengthening an argument specifically by adding further supporting material
to establish
vsto buttress a claim
  • Formal
319 4.1

To show something is true using evidence

works instead to boost an argument's force by adding material, not necessarily proving truth
to corroborate
vsto buttress a claim
111 9.0

Use evidence to show that a statement or idea is true

adds to an argument's strength rather than only confirming a single fact
to make a case
vsto buttress a claim
59 3.7

To give reasons to support or oppose an idea

is more about increasing an argument's strength by adding evidence rather than overall persuasion
to vindicate
vsto buttress a claim
54 8.6

To show someone or something was right and not to blame

is less about clearing doubt and more about adding evidence to strengthen an argument
to substantiate
vsto buttress a claim
  • Formal
44 7.2

To show that something is true by giving proof or facts

aims to strengthen an argument overall, not only to provide formal proof
to build a case
vsto buttress a claim
24 4.2

Gather and organize facts and evidence to support a claim or accusation

is narrower, adding extra evidence to strengthen an existing argument rather than assembling everything
to sustain
vsto buttress a claim
  • Formal
14 4.7

To support an idea or claim with evidence

is about actively increasing an argument's force through added evidence or reasoning
to underpin
vsto buttress a claim
  • Formal
14 6.3

Support an idea or argument with facts and reasons

focuses on making an argument stronger by adding material rather than building foundations
to buttress
vsto buttress a claim
  • Formal
9 7.1

To make an argument or idea stronger by adding facts

is about making an argument stronger by adding more evidence rather than other actions
to bear out
vsto buttress a claim
7 4.7

Show by facts that something is true

focuses on bolstering an argument with extra reasoning rather than just confirming facts
to adduce
vsto buttress a claim
  • Formal
3 9.1

Give reasons or examples to support an idea

uses added material to strengthen an argument rather than only citing examples
to circumstantiate
vsto buttress a claim
9.9

To give facts or details to show that something is true

adds general evidence to strengthen an argument rather than focusing on circumstantial detail

Antonyms

270 6.8

Weaken a person or system slowly, often in secret, so it does not work well

to refute
  • Formal
88 6.2

To show that an idea or statement is false using evidence

66 4.5

To show that an idea or claim is not true

How Supported

to prove
3.1
to substantiate
  • Formal
44 7.2
to buttress a claim
  • Formal
6.7
to support
572 2.1

Surface Forms

buttress a claim infinitive
buttressed a claim past participle
buttressing a claim present participle
buttresses a claim third person singular

Morphology

buttress + a + claim

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.