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
As was reaffirmed in court this morning, birthright citizenship is a foundational American principle that has strengthened our communities, our families, and our whole country for generations.
—
Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
These programs include efforts to improve parenting skills, expand access to high-quality child care and early education, and strengthen the financial resilience of families.
—Kathryn Maguire-Jack, The Conversation, 15 May 2025
The formula works on two fronts to create an optimal environment for hair growth while actively strengthening existing hair to decrease hair loss.
—Danielle Cohen, Glamour, 2 May 2025
Cress sprout extract filters pollution and strengthens your barrier, while wild butter ginger root extract helps block damaging, dark-spot-inducing free radicals.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
These programs include efforts to improve parenting skills, expand access to high-quality child care and early education, and strengthen the financial resilience of families.
—Kathryn Maguire-Jack, The Conversation, 15 May 2025
The formula works on two fronts to create an optimal environment for hair growth while actively strengthening existing hair to decrease hair loss.
—Danielle Cohen, Glamour, 2 May 2025
Cress sprout extract filters pollution and strengthens your barrier, while wild butter ginger root extract helps block damaging, dark-spot-inducing free radicals.
—Sarah Han, Allure, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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Without clear communication from management, early skepticism can harden into quiet resistance.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
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While the healing process can be beneficial in securing the implant in place, the scar tissue can also harden and contract around the insert, causing difficulties in regards to aesthetics — as well as pain — per the site.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Verb
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It is then fermented into a sweet wine, usually fortified.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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The Hudson Institute think tank has urged the U.S. to fortify its military airfields within the range of China's missiles, in order to preserve air dominance during a potential conflict in which China could launch surprise attacks aimed at destroying U.S. aircraft on the ground.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025
Verb
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Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 May 2025
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The league is focused on four key areas: enhanced technological features to detect hateful comments online; increased emphasis on team, arena and league security measures; reinforcing mental health resources; and alignment of core against hate.—
Doug Feinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
18 May 2025
Verb
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The National Weather Service said residents in Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois and parts of Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas and Ohio should brace for intense storms that could include baseball-sized hail.—
Michael Phillis,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2025
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Other venues, most notably the 90,000-capacity Rose Bowl, are braced for lots of empty seats.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Verb
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Lucy’s Law, among other things, stiffens the penalties for seriously injuring someone in a boat crash.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
9 May 2025
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Posture And Mobility: Undoing The Sedentary Spiral Extended sitting does more than stiffen your spine.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The focus is on teaching and learning with a new playbook and minute but important details such as adjusting his footwork when receiving the snap.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
21 May 2025
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That's starting with support for Gmail, which allows AI Mode to adjust based on things like booking emails and online purchase receipts.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
21 May 2025
Verb
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The September departure of OpenAI’s chief technology officer, Mira Murati, who then founded a rival AI startup, has intensified the AI talent war.—
Anna Tong,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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And political repression has intensified since Maduro’s fraudulent July 2024 re-election, says a new report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) advocacy group.—
Andres Oppenheimer,
Miami Herald,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Sentiment was bolstered Tuesday by the latest reading on consumer inflation showing prices rising at a slower pace than Wall Street economists had expected.—
Scott Schnipper,
CNBC,
14 May 2025
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Prior to Ventura taking the stand, the jury heard from two other witnesses who appeared to corroborate and bolster part of Ventura's testimony.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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