as in fortresses
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
defenders at the border fortifications preparing for an attack
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Recent Examples of fortifications
Javelin missile systems are portable antitank weapons also designed to destroy low-flying helicopters and other fortifications.
—
Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
Star fortifications started in Italy, were perfected in France (especially by the prolific Vauban), and dominated the European military scene for the entire 17th and 18th centuries, giving Europe’s strategic cities and landscapes a distinctive architectural look.
—Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
And now our- General Caine, Secretary Hegseth, are leading a campaign to destroy all the fortifications along the straits of Hormuz.
—NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026
Even though the border was relatively quiet for years, Israel also prepared for the next war with Hezbollah, gathering intelligence and building its own fortifications.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Beyond being a footbridge, the Kapellbrücke was part of Lucerne’s fortifications, hence its winding path across the Reuss and the high parapets that line the side of the bridge facing southeast toward Lake Lucerne.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Mar. 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the deadly strike was caused by an Iranian weapon that made it through both air defenses and the operations center's fortifications.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
There has been a gradual and then increasingly rapid erosion of their defensive fortifications.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
An excavator was levelling the ground to build more fortifications.
—Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
Star fortifications started in Italy, were perfected in France (especially by the prolific Vauban), and dominated the European military scene for the entire 17th and 18th centuries, giving Europe’s strategic cities and landscapes a distinctive architectural look.
—Big Think, 27 Mar. 2026
And now our- General Caine, Secretary Hegseth, are leading a campaign to destroy all the fortifications along the straits of Hormuz.
—NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026
Even though the border was relatively quiet for years, Israel also prepared for the next war with Hezbollah, gathering intelligence and building its own fortifications.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Beyond being a footbridge, the Kapellbrücke was part of Lucerne’s fortifications, hence its winding path across the Reuss and the high parapets that line the side of the bridge facing southeast toward Lake Lucerne.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Mar. 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the deadly strike was caused by an Iranian weapon that made it through both air defenses and the operations center's fortifications.
—CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
There has been a gradual and then increasingly rapid erosion of their defensive fortifications.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
An excavator was levelling the ground to build more fortifications.
—Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortifications
Noun
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Surface tanks are targets; subsurface reservoirs are fortresses.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
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France believed its Maginot Line of fortresses was impregnable – until the Germans simply went around it.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, in deep-blue strongholds, law-abiding people and small shop owners keep getting treated like background characters in someone else’s morality play.—
Larry Clifton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But Maples, and another Republican running for the Florida Senate, Brian Nathan, lost to Democrats in the latest sign that Democrats are performing well in traditional Republican strongholds.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Military engineers resorted to building lower, thicker ramparts, backed by earth, and sought to eliminate blind spots by building angular bastions — the aforementioned extrusions.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The first round brought mixed results for the party, which got re-elected in several cities but failed to make major wins beyond its southern and northern bastions.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The resulting star forts (so called because of their multiple fortified extrusions) solved a technological crisis.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
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Our boys were no longer little travelers content to trail along behind us through forts and museums.—
Christine Chitnis,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The story is a bit murkier than Manichaean talk of stormers and citadels.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Intelsat’s leadership rapidly green-lighted the campaign to set up internet citadels.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The fantasy story is set in a world of emperors and empresses, replete with castles and lavish costumes.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Also enjoy beach games, building sand castles, practicing beach safety and using boogie boards and kickboards.—
Jessie Dax-Setkus,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fortifications.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortifications. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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