Such drastic economic growth cannot be sustained.
Source: tatoeba (49796)
Sustained
/səˈsteɪnd/
Synonyms for "sustained" (127 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (26)
Adjective(2 words)
Noun(1 words)
Strong matches (38)
firmfixedfounded onfrozengrounded onguyedheldimmobileimmutableincessantindefatigableintactinterminableinviolatelastinglevellongmachine gunmaintainedoscillating
Adjective(4 words)
free burninglong stintlong term degradationongoing push
Noun(2 words)
learning momentumlong-term trend
Related words (63)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abiding, based on, bear, bolstered, borne.
- Sentence evidence is available for sustained, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, wiktionary, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "sustained".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "sustained"
Keep "sustained" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "sustained" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "sustained", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "sustained" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entriesaction verbcausal verbdescriptor of durationmaintenance descriptormusical duration propertyquality termtone qualityverb of continuationverb of experiencingverb of nourishment
More specific
21 entriesShowing 16 of 21 words.
Collocations
8 entriessustained attentionsustained effortsustained growthsustained momentumsustained pacesustained performancesustained releasesustained results
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
7 entriessimilar
2 entriesTranslations
9 translations across 6 languages.
Bulgarian
2 entries- незатихващ adj (held at a certain level)
- постоянен adj (held at a certain level)
Danish
1 entries- vedholdende adj (held at a certain level)
Finnish
2 entries- pitkäjänteinen adj (held at a certain level)
- pitkäkestoinen adj (held at a certain level)
Greek
1 entries- αδιάπτωτος adj (held at a certain level)
Māori
1 entries- whakauka adj (held at a certain level)
Spanish
2 entries- sostenido adj (held at a certain level)
- sustentado adj (held at a certain level)
Sample sentences
11 total sentences available.
The vision of the Olympics had sustained him.
Source: tatoeba (64810)
He sustained an injury which will take a month to heal completely.
Source: tatoeba (300766)
There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground.
Source: tatoeba (376875)
Showing 4 of 11 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "sustained"?
Closest matches include abiding, based on, bear, bolstered, borne.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "sustained"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.