Synonyms of sustainable
1
: capable of being sustained
sustainable growth
a sustainable business model
And the ratings spike did not prove sustainable for the rest of the evening.Brian Steinberg
2
a
: of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged
sustainable techniques
sustainable agriculture
The study reflects a broadening search for more climate-friendly sustainable protein sources.Ashley Miznazi
b
: of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods
a sustainable society
a sustainable future
… the most sustainable garment is one that already exists.Angela Velasquez
sustainability noun
… several boards throughout the state that focus on green building and sustainability. Melissa Followell

Examples of sustainable in a Sentence

a line of argument that is probably not sustainable in a public forum against skilled debaters has no sustainable claim to the property without a deed or some other document
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other colleges have avoided loans but are drawing more from their endowments each year than advisors consider sustainable. Bloomberg, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 Deterrence requires stable and sustainable defense equipment production, so Japan needs to reduce risks of shortages caused by suppliers withdrawing, officials said. ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 That personal expedition snowballed into an association, The Sun Trip, dedicated to promoting renewable energy, sustainable transport, and grassroots engineering through long-distance cycling expeditions. New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026 OpenAI objected as well, saying the government’s approach was not sustainable. Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sustainable

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sustainable was in 1924

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sustainable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustainable. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!