reinforce

verb

re·in·force ˌrē-ən-ˈfȯrs

variants or less commonly reenforce

reinforced also reenforced; reinforcing also reenforcing; reinforces also reenforces

Synonyms of reinforce next

transitive verb

: to strengthen by additional assistance, material, or support : make stronger or more pronounced

reinforce levees

reinforce the elbows of a jacket

reinforce ideas

: to strengthen or increase by fresh additions

reinforce our troops

were reinforcing their pitching staff

: to stimulate (a subject, such as an experimental animal) by reinforcement (see reinforcement sense 3)

also : to encourage (a response) by reinforcement

intransitive verb

: to seek or get reinforcements

reinforceable

ˌrē-ən-ˈfȯr-sə-bəl

adjective

Example Sentences

The captain sent out another squad to reinforce the troops. Our camp is reinforced with supplies flown in by helicopter. The levees will need to be reinforced. The bad weather forecast only reinforces our decision to leave early tomorrow. Some critics say that the movie reinforces negative stereotypes about the military. We do our best to reinforce good conduct in the classroom. See More

Recent Examples on the Web The legs are reinforced with a durable five-layer Cordura fabric and have removable kneepads (my favorite feature). —

Ryan Chelius, Field & Stream, 1 June 2023 Statements like that one angered some of the plaintiffs and reinforced their belief that district leaders did not care about the effect on their children. —

Linda K. Wertheimer, The New Republic, 30 May 2023 Such interactions have further reinforced a desire for human interaction, Pirotta said, noting that in the wild, beluga whales are very social beings and often stick together in pods rather than roaming the seas alone. —

Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 30 May 2023 So far, Ukrainian air defenses, reinforced by Western weapons, have largely thwarted the aerial attacks on Kyiv, limiting casualties and damages in the highly populated area. —

Marc Santora, BostonGlobe.com, 29 May 2023 The move threatened the town’s livelihood, the city’s mayor, Greg Ingram, said, and reinforced the feeling that rural places like Montgomery were constantly being stripped of their resources — and their dignity. —

Nick Fouriezos, USA TODAY, 25 May 2023 The perspective that preaddiction is similar to prediabetes also serves to medicalize addiction, reinforcing narrow conceptualizations of what addiction is and pulling attention away from other sociopolitical and environmental causes that also drive risk for substance use disorders. —

Cassandra L. Boness, STAT, 25 May 2023 The 2013 debt-ceiling fight reinforced their view that this was a workable strategy. —

The Editors, National Review, 15 May 2023 The bonds within Team Yaccarino are reinforced during intense SoulCycle sessions that Yaccarino leads and to which favored employees are invited. —

Kylie Robison, Fortune, 14 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reinforce.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.