as in sturdy
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1
as in hardened
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 fortified
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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3
as in intensified
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 braced
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 strengthened
Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
The Penguins strengthened their hold on second in the Metropolitan Division by blitzing the Panthers during the first half of the second period, pouring in four goals in less than 10 minutes.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
The dog strengthened over time at the center.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Plaintiffs in both have raised First Amendment concerns that will likely be strengthened by the Chiles decision.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
The behavior suggests bots may act not from a place of mere self-interest, but with awareness that the bot’s own shutdown would be detrimental to a peer AI, which strengthened motivation to defy user requests.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Both currencies had strengthened earlier in the session.
—Lim Hui Jie,anniek Bao,chloe Taylor, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
At the same time, the institutional and political supremacy of the supreme leader was strengthened.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Eyewitness imagery strengthened that assessment.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Arreola, who knew Jackson for more than 20 years, says his lasting legacy will live on in the young leaders shaped through Rainbow/PUSH and in the strengthened relationship between Latino and Black communities in Chicago.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
The council then strengthened the language to prohibit the sale of any kratom to anyone under 21, mirroring similar language recently passed in Kansas City, according to Lee’s Summit Development Services Director Tracy Albers.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
The Penguins strengthened their hold on second in the Metropolitan Division by blitzing the Panthers during the first half of the second period, pouring in four goals in less than 10 minutes.
—ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
The dog strengthened over time at the center.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
Plaintiffs in both have raised First Amendment concerns that will likely be strengthened by the Chiles decision.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
The behavior suggests bots may act not from a place of mere self-interest, but with awareness that the bot’s own shutdown would be detrimental to a peer AI, which strengthened motivation to defy user requests.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Both currencies had strengthened earlier in the session.
—Lim Hui Jie,anniek Bao,chloe Taylor, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
At the same time, the institutional and political supremacy of the supreme leader was strengthened.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Eyewitness imagery strengthened that assessment.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthened
Adjective
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The inner ball is made from sturdy solid styrofoam.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The songs on the album also represent durability and strength, hardened by the turmoil one may experience in their 20s.—
Jake Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On the side, there’s a cup of mushroom stock fortified with soy sauce, molasses, rosemary and a touch of cayenne pepper for dunking.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Japan considers China its main regional security threat and has fortified the country's southwestern islands near the East China Sea in recent years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Their experience is raw material, and, for crew members, the passion and memories attached to this raw material are intensified by relations of class and power.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The federal government intensified efforts to expand family detention indefinitely by motioning to terminate a cornerstone policy ensuring the protection of immigrant children in federal custody.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
September Dawn Bottoms for NBC News Carter had braced for a backlash.—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Though Ohio braced for severe weather, with some areas seeing hail come down, on March 22, some Ohio's cities reached record high temperatures during the day.—
Mariyam Muhammad,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The prime minister’s demeanor stiffened.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
-
After the deputies put him back into the chair, Mitchell’s body stiffened, with his legs straight in front of him and his head lolling back.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But her thickened skin, along with her toughened reputation, felt supple now.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Trump announced a toughened stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine on Monday, setting a 50-day deadline for Moscow to reach a ceasefire or face sanctions.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
From there, building operators get a clearer picture of what can be adjusted without disrupting daily operations.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Skip sessions, or freelance your own schedule, and expectations need to be adjusted accordingly.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthened. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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