1
as in to harden
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fortify
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to enhance
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
encouraged the boarding school students to strengthen their ties with the community by doing public service
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4
as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
strengthened herself for the moment she'd have to tell her friend that she had lost the borrowed necklace
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthen
That could include reallocating local and state resources, strengthening regional collaboration between counties and finding efficiencies wherever possible.
—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Gage’s emergence comes at a pivotal time, not only strengthening the 59ers’ bid for a second straight state title but also preparing him for the jump to college baseball at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
—Noah Poser, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Organizers point to new collaborations with the Cartagena de Indias International Film Festival and the Costa Rica Media Market’s Fantastic Lab initiative as part of a broader push into Latin America and the Caribbean, strengthening pathways for regional talent discovery and circulation.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 8 May 2026
Flexible floor plans, bonus rooms and convertible spaces reduce the need for future relocation, which in turn strengthens long-term value.
—Zakkiyyah Terrell White, USA Today, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
Gage’s emergence comes at a pivotal time, not only strengthening the 59ers’ bid for a second straight state title but also preparing him for the jump to college baseball at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
—Noah Poser, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Organizers point to new collaborations with the Cartagena de Indias International Film Festival and the Costa Rica Media Market’s Fantastic Lab initiative as part of a broader push into Latin America and the Caribbean, strengthening pathways for regional talent discovery and circulation.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 8 May 2026
Flexible floor plans, bonus rooms and convertible spaces reduce the need for future relocation, which in turn strengthens long-term value.
—Zakkiyyah Terrell White, USA Today, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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One that shows the intense rightward swing that has only hardened as the lines between hip-hop and the streaming universe have blurred.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
-
The airstrike on the Haret Hreik neighborhood targeted the leader of the Radwan forces, Hezbollah’s elite and battle-hardened fighting unit, Israeli authorities said.—
Mohamad El Chamaa,
Washington Post,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Though the depth is fortified on offense, the defense hampered the Bears most last season.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
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What fortifies it the most is an appearance from Williams’ grandfather midway through the song.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The new thermal insulation material improves upon aerogel by enhancing its mechanical properties while maintaining moisture permeability and quick-drying performance.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
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Saudi Aramco’s new supercomputer, meant to accelerate the search for new oil and gas deposits and enhance output from existing fields, costs $373 million.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Overcast skies hovered over Atlanta during the midafternoon as the metro area braced for severe weather.—
Vanessa McCray,
AJC.com,
6 May 2026
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The disappointment comes after the hotel industry was bracing for a strong summer in 2026.—
Rafael Nam,
NPR,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The rings arise because the metal softens as the can compresses, then stiffens, then compresses and stiffens again, repeating the pattern until the compression is complete—akin to something called homoclinic snaking.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
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Will these Knicks stick to the process when the competition stiffens in the second round?—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Stay flexible, adjust lightly, and let what feels enjoyable lead.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
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The rate paid is adjusted every six months by the Treasury Department and depends on inflation.—
Sarah Agostino,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The shooting has also intensified calls by conservatives to fully fund DHS through a single bill — blaming Democrats for the shutdown and arguing that splitting apart ICE and Border Patrol funding will only give the minority party leverage.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
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Instead, the slight thaw suggests a more modest agenda that the countries should now pursue, one that acknowledges that tensions between them over fundamental issues — trade, technology, global status — are more likely to intensify than abate.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lots of laughter and playing with joy, even in the hardest of moments, truly bolsters well-being!—
Jenny B. Fine,
Footwear News,
8 May 2026
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The short-loop design The ReCAM project is a strategic effort to bolster the UK’s national resource security by processing battery waste domestically rather than sending it for export.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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