1
as in to harden
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 to fortify
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 to enhance
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 to brace
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 strengthen
Critics worry that policies like this may draw attention away from strengthening public schools.
—
Claudia Nachtigal, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2026
Those include strengthening state laws and regulations, improving training for public safety officials and strengthening fireworks facility inspection processes.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Incorporating these programmes into Disney+ strengthens our ambition to enrich the service, while giving greater visibility to the extraordinary creative talent across Spain.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 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
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Claudia Nachtigal, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2026
Those include strengthening state laws and regulations, improving training for public safety officials and strengthening fireworks facility inspection processes.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Incorporating these programmes into Disney+ strengthens our ambition to enrich the service, while giving greater visibility to the extraordinary creative talent across Spain.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 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
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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Saline rinses at the first sign of congestion can prevent mouth breathing from hardening into habit.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
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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
-
The Jets were looking for a veteran to fortify their quarterback position and landed on Smith after the Raiders were set to release him.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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By enabling submarines to deploy and recover unmanned vehicles while remaining hidden, the technology enhances both mission flexibility and operational safety.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
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The new definition of Mormon perfection looks different now, but that’s not to say the pursuit of looking naturally beautiful is easier than looking artificially enhanced.—
Elizabeth Gulino,
Allure,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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India, the second-largest coal consumer and producer, is bracing for a scorching summer and will rely more on coal to meet the peak demand of 270 gigawatts -- nearly twice the electricity Spain can produce.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Mar. 2026
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September Dawn Bottoms for NBC News Carter had braced for a backlash.—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Moving the kink to one end makes that side soft and the opposite end stiff; placing it at the center softens the middle and stiffens both edges.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
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The long lull in excitement threatened to sap our energy, and being stuck in a car for four hours after a morning of physical exertion can stiffen the body.—
Gregory Thomas,
San Francisco Chronicle,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The San Jose Unified School District board voted Thursday night to shut down five elementary schools and relocate another at the end of the current school year, a decision that has left many parents and students frustrated and scrambling to adjust.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Hereford was able to identify property in her purse, including the three diamond rings, a wristwatch, brooch, and a diamond stick pin, together worth over $350, and more than $15,000 in 2025 when adjusted for inflation.—
Kevin Foster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The backlash intensified because of timing.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Most importantly, the legislation intensified punishments for those with prior convictions, with the worst offenders looking at a first-degree felony with up to 30 years imprisonment.—
Sean M. Cleary,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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New acquisitions Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas, Starling Marte should bolster the outfield.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
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The system continues to bolster its footprint in North Carolina.—
Chase Jordan
March 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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