as in fortress
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the island was the pirates' last stronghold in the West Indies
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stronghold
Meanwhile, in deep-blue strongholds, law-abiding people and small shop owners keep getting treated like background characters in someone else’s morality play.
—
Larry Clifton, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
Most primary winners in the Democratic stronghold are expected to win in November, shaping a new generation of leadership in the state’s congressional delegation.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
San Francisco and Berkeley are the Bay Area’s pizza strongholds.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026
The toll is lower than at this point in 2025 — a record year for violence that began with Israel invading northern West Bank cities that the military said were militant strongholds.
—Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
Larry Clifton, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
Most primary winners in the Democratic stronghold are expected to win in November, shaping a new generation of leadership in the state’s congressional delegation.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
San Francisco and Berkeley are the Bay Area’s pizza strongholds.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026
The toll is lower than at this point in 2025 — a record year for violence that began with Israel invading northern West Bank cities that the military said were militant strongholds.
—Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stronghold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stronghold
Noun
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When a crew member is found dead and another goes missing, military investigators board the floating fortress, with its 2,000-strong crew and nuclear payload, to hunt for the truth before the murder becomes a global security crisis.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Mar. 2026
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One focus of Russian attacks has been the town of Lyman in Donetsk, at the edge of what’s known as Ukraine’s fortress belt in the region, and a key strongpoint guarding the larger city of Sloviansk.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For its part, the M2 is seen by many as one of the last bastions of the M division’s original ethos.—
Bradley Iger,
Robb Report,
18 Mar. 2026
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Dubai is known for being one of the world’s most opulent cities, as well as a bastion of safety in a region under the perpetual threat of violence.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Craig Proctor, the childhood friend who played Dungeons & Dragons with him, told me that Friedmann once showed him architectural floor plans for a citadel that Friedmann’s thief-rogue avatar would oversee.—
James Verini,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
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Jeremy Blake released a trilogy of animations about San Jose’s Winchester Mystery House, the Victorian citadel built by a gun heiress to keep out the ghosts of those killed with her rifles.—
Rachel Wetzler,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And now our- General Caine, Secretary Hegseth, are leading a campaign to destroy all the fortifications along the straits of Hormuz.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
22 Mar. 2026
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Iran’s neighbors, particularly Turkey and Iraq, are preparing contingency plans including border fortifications and refugee shelters amid fears of a potential crisis.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The miniatures in the castle are placed into small containers one room at a time, so they can be dusted and cleaned using small brushes and tweezers.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
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Also enjoy beach games, building sand castles, practicing beach safety and using boogie boards and kickboards.—
Jessie Dax-Setkus,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Despite those staggering volumes, Ukraine holds the fort.—
Mikhail Alexseev,
Twin Cities,
22 Mar. 2026
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Our boys were no longer little travelers content to trail along behind us through forts and museums.—
Christine Chitnis,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stronghold. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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