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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 fortify
Connecticut should continue to fortify its legal framework so that care decisions remain between patients, families, and medical professionals — not politicians or out-of-state actors — and so that the right to bodily autonomy is grounded as securely as possible in state law.
—
Matthew Blinstrubas, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
So this isn’t an identity crisis but a logical evolution, one that doesn’t abandon what the Royals have long stressed but seeks to fortify it.
—Kansas City Star, 6 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
Instead, organizations must proactively build resilience, consider concrete steps that can fortify an organization against an attack, and consider how to protect reputation through the course of the attack.
—Sam Wolf, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fortify
Matthew Blinstrubas, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
So this isn’t an identity crisis but a logical evolution, one that doesn’t abandon what the Royals have long stressed but seeks to fortify it.
—Kansas City Star, 6 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
Instead, organizations must proactively build resilience, consider concrete steps that can fortify an organization against an attack, and consider how to protect reputation through the course of the attack.
—Sam Wolf, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fortify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortify
Verb
-
The apartment was unusually still, my coffee beside me gone cold, as if bracing for what would come next.—
Adrianne Wright,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Now requests are arriving steadily from New York, Maine, and Milan, other locales bracing for their own sieges.—
Kathryn Savage,
Artforum,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
PSyn supports that work by helping health plans and employer groups strengthen benefit strategy through education, practical analysis, and operational guidance grounded in real-world pharmacy experience.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Every morning, seahorses greet their other half by performing a rhythmic dance that can last minutes or even hours to strengthen their bond.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Research has long shown that a constantly percolating stress response strains practically every body part, particularly your heart, which pumps harder and faster to ready you for action.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
5 Feb. 2026
-
As well as cheeky possums and young kestrels readying to make their first flight, this year’s gallery also includes images that ask bigger questions about the human impact on the planet.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fortify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortify. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
