Entry Word: strengthen

Function: verb

Meaning: 1 to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force <lifting weights every day will eventually strengthen your muscles> <the Army makes new recruits run for miles in order to strengthen them>

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, undermine

Antonyms debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, weaken

2 to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure <required weeks of physical therapy to strengthen his arm enough to pitch for the team again> — see harden 2
3 to make markedly greater in measure or degree <encouraged the boarding school students to strengthen their ties with the community by doing public service> — see intensify
4 to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally <strengthened herself for the moment sheʼd have to tell her friend that she had lost the borrowed necklace> — see fortify 1