Entry Word: fortify

Function: verb

Meaning: 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, ready, steel, strengthen

Related Words harden, inure, season, toughen; bolster, boost, buoy (up), buttress, prop (up), reinforce, support, sustain; embolden, encourage, hearten; rally, rouse, stir

Near Antonyms demoralize, discourage, dishearten, unnerve; debilitate, enfeeble, undermine, weaken

2 to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force <ate another granola bar to fortify himself for the rest of the bike ride> — see strengthen 1
3 to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure <bought lots of warm clothing to fortify ourselves against the cold> — see harden 2