Synonyms of fortify

fortify

verb

ˈfȯr-tə-ˌfī 

1

as in to brace

to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally

Kelly fortified herself for the basketball tournament with a series of confidence-boosting exercises

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brace
• strengthen
• ready
• nerve
• steel
• reinforce
• bolster
• enforce
• forearm
• poise
• psych (up)
• arm
• sustain
• buttress
• encourage
• inure
• harden
• comfort
• inspire
• rouse
• support
• boost
• toughen
• season
• stir
• embolden
• hearten
• rally
• prop (up)
• buoy (up)
• cheer (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in to strengthen

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 & Similar Words

• strengthen
• harden
• toughen
• beef (up)
• energize
• invigorate
• vitalize
• temper
• tone (up)
• anneal
• firm (up)
• restrengthen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weaken
• hurt
• impair
• injure
• paralyze
• cripple
• harm
• damage
• debilitate
• enervate
• undermine
• enfeeble
• incapacitate
• wear out
• undercut
• break down
• sap

3

as in to harden

to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure

bought lots of warm clothing to fortify ourselves against the cold

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strengthen
• harden
• inure
• steel
• toughen
• bolster
• adjust
• reinforce
• adapt
• season
• indurate
• invigorate
• vitalize
• acclimate
• enforce
• brace
• immunize
• buttress
• acclimatize
• temper
• anneal
• boost
• accustom
• support
• condition
• habituate
• naturalize
• break in
• train
• prop (up)
• forearm
• limber (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soften
• weaken
• exhaust
• emasculate
• sap
• cripple
• incapacitate
• sensitize
• hamstring
• enervate
• enfeeble
• debilitate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fortify

With the addition, Bal Harbour Shops grows to 600,000 square feet, and fortifies its offering of many of the world’s most extravagant and coveted designer brands and white tablecloth dining. — David Moin, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026

Speaking of actives, the formula is also fortified with a triple peptide blend to tighten and firm, kakadu plum and caffeine extract to brighten, and marine extracts to target crepiness. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026

Washington must help its partners raise their security standards, share intelligence and best practices more widely, and fortify monitoring programs. — Sam Mullins, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2026

The Thunder also have a 21-pick stockpile of second-rounders that was fortified via the Dort, Wiggins and Joe trades. — John Hollinger, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026