1
as in braces
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
Kelly fortified herself for the basketball tournament with a series of confidence-boosting exercises
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strengthens
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hardens
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
bought lots of warm clothing to fortify ourselves against the cold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of fortifies
Justin Faulk immediately fortifies Detroit’s second defense pair next to Ben Chiarot.
—
The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Adding keratin back into hair fortifies the strands ultimately yielding stronger, healthier hair.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
Trading for Vucevic fortifies Boston’s front court–and provides a valuable play-making skill set to complement Jaylen Brown in a season worthy of MVP consideration.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
That night, Pam fortifies herself with a few drinks and answers when the phone rings.
—Allegra Goodman, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 conservative majority regularly fortifies religious rights, but the justices have also been wary of expanding government officials’ exposure to damages in their individual capacities.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 10 Nov. 2025
Rice protein fortifies each strand to reduce breakage, while hyaluronic acid provides weightless hydration so hair stays soft without feeling heavy.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
Trying to stay ahead of the game, for Dick’s the acquisition of Foot Locker also fortifies relationships with Nike and Adidas, which still dominate global footwear sales, and gives Dick’s negotiating leverage.
—Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The future Hall of Famer only fortifies the talented roster, and gives Houston an experienced star who has the championship hardware to prove it.
—Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Adding keratin back into hair fortifies the strands ultimately yielding stronger, healthier hair.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 26 Feb. 2026
Trading for Vucevic fortifies Boston’s front court–and provides a valuable play-making skill set to complement Jaylen Brown in a season worthy of MVP consideration.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
That night, Pam fortifies herself with a few drinks and answers when the phone rings.
—Allegra Goodman, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 conservative majority regularly fortifies religious rights, but the justices have also been wary of expanding government officials’ exposure to damages in their individual capacities.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 10 Nov. 2025
Rice protein fortifies each strand to reduce breakage, while hyaluronic acid provides weightless hydration so hair stays soft without feeling heavy.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
Trying to stay ahead of the game, for Dick’s the acquisition of Foot Locker also fortifies relationships with Nike and Adidas, which still dominate global footwear sales, and gives Dick’s negotiating leverage.
—Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The future Hall of Famer only fortifies the talented roster, and gives Houston an experienced star who has the championship hardware to prove it.
—Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortifies
Verb
-
While Silicon Valley braces for overnight layoffs, is China faring any better?—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Vietnam’s airlines are suspending some domestic routes as the country braces for jet fuel shortages.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kanaiyah's Law restricts where the state can house children and strengthens oversight of Maryland's child welfare system.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
That kind of partner-specific tolerance combined with aggression toward outsiders strengthens cooperation and reduces competition.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The worst possible time would be in two weeks, as the team readies for its first playoff series since 2019.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Antonio Express-News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The offering's launch comes as Novo readies for a new oral GLP-1 from its rival Eli Lilly, expected later this year.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fortifies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortifies. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
