bolster
v.v. to make something stronger or more effective. You use this when you want to support an idea, a structure, or someone's confidence.
v. to strengthen, support, or reinforce something physically or abstractly. Transitive; commonly collocates with confidence, morale, or arguments.
The new data bolstered her argument.
The manager offered praise to bolster the team's confidence before the big presentation.
The government introduced new subsidies to bolster the struggling agricultural sector against rising global market prices.
From Middle English bolster, bolstre, from Old English bolster (“pillow”), from Proto-West Germanic bolstr, from Proto-Germanic bulstraz (“pillow, cushion”). Cognate with Scots bowster (“bolster”), West Frisian bulster (“mattress”), Dutch bolster (“husk, shell”), German Polster (“bolster, pillow, pad”), Swedish bolster (“soft mattress, bolster”), Icelandic bólstur (“pillow”).
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.