beefs (up)

verb

present tense third-person singular of beef (up)
1
as in strengthens
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 intensifies
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 beefs (up)
  1. strengthens
  2. intensifies
  3. hardens
  4. enhances
  5. heightens
  6. deepens
Verb
  • Your authority strengthens when your private foundation is not treated as optional.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • However, the same methodology was used throughout the study period, which strengthens the finding of an increase over time.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of strengthens
Verb
  • Doing so helps prevent soggy bottoms and intensifies the domed top, made possible by baking in alternating cups.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2026
  • This move intensifies existing rivalries, notably with the Boston Celtics following the Jaylen Brown trade.
    — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of intensifies
Verb
  • This buildup, called plaque, narrows and hardens the arteries, causing health problems.
    — Gavin Escott, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Oil prices are ticking up, as Iran hardens its stance over control of the Strait of Hormuz and other demands to end the war, dashing hopes for a quick deal to reopen the waterway.
    — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of hardens
Verb
  • In addition to providing museum guests with more indoor space, the new location enhances the exterior, drawing people in with a yellow brick road and murals on the building’s outside walls.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026
  • This combination of confidence, humility and emotional intelligence earns respect and enhances leadership impact.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of enhances
Verb
  • That sound underscores the physicality of the medium and heightens the sensation of time passing.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande shine as Elphaba and Glinda (sorry, Galinda), and their natural chemistry only heightens the tragedy of the friendship between the two legendary Ozian characters.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of heightens
Verb
  • Beavers tied it in the sixth off Fernando Cruz with an opposite-field drive to left — just to the right of where the wall out there deepens.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Leaders should ask whether a new location grows the customer base, deepens existing relationships, or increases purchase frequency or spending enough to offset channel substitution.
    — Ayşe Çetinel, Harvard Business Review, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of deepens
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.

Browse Nearby Words

beefs
beefs (up)
beef (up)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beefs (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beefs%20%28up%29. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of prowess

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All