Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun mainstay

3 senses of mainstay

Sense 1
pillar, mainstay -- (a prominent supporter; "he is a pillar of the community")
       => supporter, protagonist, champion, admirer, booster, friend -- (a person who backs a politician or a team etc.; "all their supporters came out for the game"; "they are friends of the library")

Sense 2
anchor, mainstay, keystone, backbone, linchpin, lynchpin -- (a central cohesive source of support and stability; "faith is his anchor"; "the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money"; "he is the linchpin of this firm")
       => support -- (something providing immaterial assistance to a person or cause or interest; "the policy found little public support"; "his faith was all the support he needed"; "the team enjoyed the support of their fans")

Sense 3
mainstay -- (the forestay that braces the mainmast)
       => forestay -- (an adjustable stay from the foremast to the deck or bowsprit; controls the bending of the mast)