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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of fortifies
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
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
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But as about two thirds of the country braces for heavy snow and bitter cold this weekend, most Pats fans with Monday flights home hope celebratory spirits will take the sting out of any travel woes.—
Juli McDonald,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
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This is a major step forward in Japan’s long and cautious return to nuclear power and comes as the country braces for tight electricity supplies ahead of the summer peak.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Its approach not only delivers at scale, but also strengthens supply chains, creates skilled jobs, and supports a circular energy economy—proof that innovation and responsibility can advance together.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
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Lastly, the acquisition strengthens Capital One's balance sheet, allowing for aggressive share repurchases in the future.—
,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The litigation is unfolding as SoFi Stadium readies to host 2026 FIFA World Cup games, the 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Olympic events.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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As Kiffin fights with his former employer about assistant coaches, Ole Miss readies for a generational opportunity.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fortifies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortifies. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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