1. mainstay, pillar

a prominent supporter

Example Sentences:
'he is a pillar of the community'

Synonyms

• pillar

2. anchor, backbone, keystone, linchpin, lynchpin, mainstay

a central cohesive source of support and stability

Example Sentences:
'faith is his anchor'
'the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money'
'he is the linchpin of this firm'

Synonyms

• anchor
• backbone
• keystone
• linchpin
• lynchpin

3. mainstay

the forestay that braces the mainmast