1
as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
Kelly fortified herself for the basketball tournament with a series of confidence-boosting exercises
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2
as in to strengthen
to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force
he downed another granola bar to fortify himself for the rest of the bike ride
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3
as in to harden
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
bought lots of warm clothing to fortify ourselves against the cold
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fortify
The city’s public works facility has provided free sandbags this week for residents and businesses, like Chicago Behavioral Hospital, to fortify against Des Plaines flooding.
—
Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Sardines, tofu, sesame seeds, soy milk, collard greens, certain cheeses, and fortified juices and cereals are high in calcium.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 17 Apr. 2026
Google also relies on several other defense mechanisms, like an expansive advertiser verification program, that work together to fortify protections.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Along with nonfat milk, sugar, and palm oil, Nela includes vitamin A palmitate and riboflavin to fortify the finished product.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fortify
Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Sardines, tofu, sesame seeds, soy milk, collard greens, certain cheeses, and fortified juices and cereals are high in calcium.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 17 Apr. 2026
Google also relies on several other defense mechanisms, like an expansive advertiser verification program, that work together to fortify protections.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Along with nonfat milk, sugar, and palm oil, Nela includes vitamin A palmitate and riboflavin to fortify the finished product.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fortify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortify
Verb
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Songs here that start off surprisingly bracing resolve into big, sleek choruses, the work of firm believers in the power of heroic, high-protein mainstream alt-rock as a salve against encroaching darkness.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Riyadh doesn’t feel like a city bracing for crisis.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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October 23 – November 21 An honest shift today strengthens what truly matters.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
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Scorpio October 23 – November 21 An honest shift today strengthens what truly matters.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Think modern, not luxurious Voyager Technologies in Colorado is readying a space hotel for 2029.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
23 Apr. 2026
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Now in his seventies, readying for the latest in a series of career-spanning retrospectives, Agüero is reluctant to weigh in on the fate of documentary cinema in these fraught times.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fortify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortify. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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