2
$\begingroup$

You could say my prefix aims for the top.

My infix with my suffix sets a strong foundation and just like here, seldom used on its own.

But my suffix really sounds like it puts it all together.

$\endgroup$

3 Answers 3

3
$\begingroup$

I think the answer might be

Reinforcement

You could say my prefix aims for the top.

Rein sounds like reign which means to be the best or most important in a particular area (this explains the "you could say" part as a homophone indicator).

My infix with my suffix sets a strong foundation and just like here, seldom used on its own.

Forcement which can mean compulsion (although somewhat obsolete) and compulsion is an essential ingredient in any endeavour to aim for the top.

As Stiv mentioned in the comments the "it" here may just refer to the infix, for, which is usually used along with another word in a sentence and can't really be used on its own.

But my suffix really sounds like it puts it all together.

Cement - as in MacGyver88's answers

Title

Reinforcement is the act of strengthening something. It also reminds me of the idea of reinforcement learning which is a machine learning technique that gets better at a particular task over time.

$\endgroup$
4
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Avpr. V qvqa'g jnag gb sybbq gur cntr jvgu PRZRAG raqvat nafjref. Abg gung gurer ner gung znal zber gung zngpu. "FZRAG" jnf zl arkg gubhtug, ohg V'z bhg. Gjb'f rabhtu sbe zr. $\endgroup$
    – MacGyver88
    Aug 17, 2020 at 13:07
  • $\begingroup$ I think you've got it +1 But I think the 'seldom used on its own' fragment refers to rot13(gur vasvk fcrpvsvpnyyl, naq vf fhccbfrq gb ersyrpg gung 'sbe' vf hfhnyyl hfrq nybat jvgu nabgure jbeq va n fragrapr naq pna'g ernyyl or hfrq ba vgf bja...) $\endgroup$
    – Stiv
    Aug 17, 2020 at 14:14
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Stiv Ah, I see, you reckon the "it" in the sentence is the infix rather than the compound infix-suffix, that might make more sense. Will edit in with credit. $\endgroup$
    – hexomino
    Aug 17, 2020 at 14:32
  • $\begingroup$ Ding Ding, we got a winner! $\endgroup$
    – mrdeadsven
    Aug 18, 2020 at 6:43
4
$\begingroup$

Second Attempt

REPLACEMENT

You could say my prefix aims for the top.

REP - The more REP you earn, the closer you get to the top

My infix with my suffix sets a strong foundation and just like here, seldom used on its own.

PLACEMENT - To set something, like a foundation? Play on PLACE and CEMENT? - Not sure

But my suffix really sounds like it puts it all together.

CEMENT - Holds things together

Title

Replacing bad habits or routines with new good ones? Coincidentally, I'm replacing my previous answer with what I hope is a better answer.



Previous

ADVANCEMENT

You could say my prefix aims for the top.

AD - Adverts at the top of screens

My infix with my suffix sets a strong foundation and just like here, seldom used on its own.

VAN on CEMENT - a van works best on a road

But my suffix really sounds like it puts it all together.

CEMENT - Holds things together

Title

ADVANCEMENT - an act of moving forward. - promotion in rank or standing;
Could be used to mean: to become better.

$\endgroup$
4
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ The title makes sense too! $\endgroup$ Aug 14, 2020 at 14:39
  • $\begingroup$ @Beastly, Gung'f jurer V fgnegrq sebz. I will include. $\endgroup$
    – MacGyver88
    Aug 14, 2020 at 14:40
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Very nice guess and very close, but not the answer I was looking for. $\endgroup$
    – mrdeadsven
    Aug 14, 2020 at 14:55
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Your first guess was closer to the actual one I'm thinking of. $\endgroup$
    – mrdeadsven
    Aug 16, 2020 at 11:49
1
$\begingroup$

Could the answer be

open

You could say my prefix aims for the top.

op -- original posters aim for quality in their posts.

My infix with my suffix sets a strong foundation and just like here, seldom used on its own.

pe and en -- physical exercise and English sets a strong foundation

But my suffix really sounds like it puts it all together.

en -- English is what put this riddle together.

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Nice answer, but not what I was thinking of. $\endgroup$
    – mrdeadsven
    Aug 16, 2020 at 11:48

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.