1
as in to strengthen
to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force
beefed up the walls with iron bars
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to intensify
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
will beef up security for the next few days while the president is in town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beef (up)
Verb
-
At Go Behavioral, a team strengthened by BCBA, clinical psychologists, and RBT professionals helps children work on developing skills by breaking them down into small, manageable steps, which are then reinforced consistently.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
21 June 2025 -
According to the 2024 People’s Climate Vote, 80% of people globally want their countries to strengthen climate commitments, and over two-thirds support a fast transition from fossil fuels.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Verb
-
While inflation and rising interest rates have intensified financial pressure across the board, the impact has been disproportionately severe for those already operating at a capital disadvantage, which includes many women of color entrepreneurs.—
Alejandra Rojas,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
-
Black women are often conditioned to prioritize others’ needs over their own, and this tendency may intensify during the summertime demands.—
Essence,
Essence,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
Thoughtful packaging enhances brand perception, encourages repeat purchases and boosts word-of-mouth.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
These gothic elements enhance the book’s central preoccupations of trust, fidelity, and the difficulty of fully knowing another person—or oneself.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
Regular briefings with Gartner, Forrester or other industry-specific analysts can yield strategic insights and visibility that deepen over time.—
Rene Musech,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
-
Hayes continues to find ways to deepen the USWNT player pool, tapping a quartet of players who are being called into this national team environment for the first time.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
Undermining it can silence voices, suppress creativity and heighten risk exposure, especially in cybersecurity and compliance-sensitive environments where early detection and reporting are critical to resilience and trust.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
The impact of this powerful novel is heightened by Golden Voice narrator Nicholas Boulton’s keen understanding of its author’s purposes.—
AudioFile Magazine
June 27,
Literary Hub,
27 June 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Beef (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beef%20%28up%29. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share