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
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Mar. 2026
The Worldpay deal also bolstered Global Payments presence in Europe and strengthened some of its offerings such as e-commerce capabilities.
—Justin Zacks, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Granlund capped his hat trick by scoring a power-play goal with one second left in overtime on Thursday night as the Ducks strengthened their hold on the top spot in the Pacific Division with a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.
—Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
The partnership between the Jewish and Cuban-American communities in Miami has enriched our civic life, strengthened our institutions, and amplified our collective voice in defense of democracy and human rights.
—Brian Siegal, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
In Florida’s case, the competitive effect strengthened as the program grew, suggesting the real-world advantage may be even larger than what the existing data captures.
—Tommy Schultz, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
That link only strengthened last year, when Salah mourned the death of teammate Diogo Jota alongside millions of Reds fans around the world.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026
That has only strengthened the relationship between the league and the city.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The law must be strengthened further to ensure that, in the future, gross negligence, reckless storage of remains and even improper co-mingling of remains can be criminally charged from the onset, and carry real sentences with the potential for actual jail time.
—Vaughan Bagley, Baltimore Sun, 22 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
Eyewitness imagery strengthened that assessment.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Mar. 2026
The Worldpay deal also bolstered Global Payments presence in Europe and strengthened some of its offerings such as e-commerce capabilities.
—Justin Zacks, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
Granlund capped his hat trick by scoring a power-play goal with one second left in overtime on Thursday night as the Ducks strengthened their hold on the top spot in the Pacific Division with a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.
—Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
The partnership between the Jewish and Cuban-American communities in Miami has enriched our civic life, strengthened our institutions, and amplified our collective voice in defense of democracy and human rights.
—Brian Siegal, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
In Florida’s case, the competitive effect strengthened as the program grew, suggesting the real-world advantage may be even larger than what the existing data captures.
—Tommy Schultz, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
That link only strengthened last year, when Salah mourned the death of teammate Diogo Jota alongside millions of Reds fans around the world.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 25 Mar. 2026
That has only strengthened the relationship between the league and the city.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The law must be strengthened further to ensure that, in the future, gross negligence, reckless storage of remains and even improper co-mingling of remains can be criminally charged from the onset, and carry real sentences with the potential for actual jail time.
—Vaughan Bagley, Baltimore Sun, 22 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,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Our Top Makeup Brush Sets When the brushes are thoughtfully designed—think soft, dense fibers and sturdy handles—blending tends to be easier, and your makeup looks that much more polished.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Iran and the United States hardened their positions as a diplomatic push for a ceasefire in the Middle East war appeared to falter on Thursday.—
Jon Gambrell,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
And the Iranian position has now hardened.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Huel sells a range of protein shakes and drinks fortified with nutrients.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The elevator to it is fortified for heavy loads.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Among those whose commitment to Israel had intensified after October 7th, numerous sources told me, was Olitzky, Beth El’s senior rabbi.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Israel has intensified its attacks across Lebanon, mostly in the South, where Israeli ground troops are moving northward to try to oust Hezbollah militants.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
29 Mar. 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
-
Companies across sectors have already adjusted their offerings and weighed price increases due to the surge in oil prices.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
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In a video obtained by Fox News Digital, Schwarzenegger carefully adjusted Baena’s positioning to ensure optimal muscle growth.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthened. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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