stronghold

noun

strong·hold | \ ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld

Definition of stronghold

1 : a fortified place

2a : a place of security or survival one of the last strongholds of the ancient Gaelic language— George Holmes

b : a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic a Republican stronghold strongholds of snobbery— Lionel Trilling

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Examples of stronghold in a Sentence

The area is a Republican stronghold. The rebels retreated to their mountain stronghold. the last stronghold of the endangered deer

Recent Examples on the Web

The agreement between the leaders of Russia and Turkey on Monday is thought to have averted an all-out offensive by government forces to retake the last remaining rebel stronghold in Idlib. — Fox News, "The Latest: Details released of agreement on Syria's Idlib," 18 Sep. 2018 The region was an early hotbed of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, and defeat there would leave rebels with one remaining stronghold — the area around Idlib province bordering Turkey in the northwest. — Washington Post, "World Digest: June 30, 2018," 30 June 2018 Despite such rumors, U.S. counterterrorism officials are convinced that Baghdadi is alive and is helping direct long-term strategy for the dwindling numbers of Islamic State fighters defending the group's remaining strongholds in eastern Syria. — Joby Warrick And Souad Mekhennet, chicagotribune.com, "Clues suggest ISIS leader is still alive — and busy with a chilling new mission," 19 May 2018 What to expect Arizona’s 8th district has long been a GOP stronghold, held by Republicans since the early 1980s. — Natasha Bach, Fortune, "Another Special Election, Another Litmus Test for November: What To Know About Tuesday's Race in Arizona," 24 Apr. 2018 Texas is a Republican stronghold, with the party holding the governor’s mansion, both Senate seats, and safe majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. — Tara Golshan, Vox, "Ted Cruz reelected to the US Senate after a surprisingly competitive race," 7 Nov. 2018 Rural areas, which tend to be Trump strongholds, have more sway in the contest for the Senate. — Reid J. Epstein, WSJ, "A Test of Trump: Midterms Could Result in a Mixed Verdict," 4 Nov. 2018 Though Oakland County is the Poweshieks' remaining stronghold, that's a relative term. — Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan's most endangered species nears extinction in Oakland County," 13 July 2018 The pipeline also brings the cheap 4ANPP precursor from China to the U.S., then south of the border to Mexican cartel strongholds, where it is cut with other substances. — Alex Riggins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Former San Diego-area Border Patrol agent admits to drug charge in federal court," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stronghold.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.