fortify

fortify

verb

Definition of FORTIFY

1

to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally <Kelly fortified herself for the basketball tournament with a series of confidence-boosting exercises>

Synonyms brace, forearm, nerve, poise, psych (up), ready, steel, strengthen

Related Words arm; harden, inure, season, toughen; bolster, boost, buoy (up), buttress, enforce, prop (up), reinforce (also reenforce), support, sustain; cheer (up), comfort, embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire; rally, rouse, stir

Near Antonyms daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, psych (out), shake, unnerve; debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, prostrate, sap, soften, tire, undercut, undermine, weaken

2

to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force <he downed another granola bar to fortify himself for the rest of the bike ride>

Synonyms beef (up), fortify, harden, toughen

Related Words anneal, temper; firm (up), tone (up); energize, invigorate, vitalize; restrengthen

Near Antonyms cripple, incapacitate, paralyze; damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure; break down, wear out; sap, undercut, undermine

Antonyms debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, weaken

3

to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure <bought lots of warm clothing to fortify ourselves against the cold>

Synonyms fortify, indurate, inure, season, steel, strengthen, toughen

Related Words acclimate, acclimatize, adapt, adjust; anneal, temper; invigorate, vitalize; immunize; bolster, boost, brace, buttress, enforce, forearm, prop (up), reinforce (also reenforce), support; break in, limber (up), train; accustom, condition, habituate, naturalize

Near Antonyms emasculate, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, sap, weaken; cripple, debilitate, hamstring, incapacitate; sensitize

Antonyms soften