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
They’ve already been linked to two of the portal’s best available defenders in Oklahoma State edge Wendell Gregory and Kansas State linebacker Austin Romaine to help fortify a defense that’ll lose its top playmakers to the NFL draft.
—
Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
At the helm is Iran’s ailing 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who spent decades trying to fortify his regime from domestic and foreign threats, but must now contend with a failing strategy.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Dec. 2025
Some are also fortified with vitamins, minerals, or probiotics to provide extra benefits, so check the label.
—Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 29 Dec. 2025
His plan is to use them to fortify his powers and merge the two worlds together.
—Carrie Wittmer, Glamour, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fortify
Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
At the helm is Iran’s ailing 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who spent decades trying to fortify his regime from domestic and foreign threats, but must now contend with a failing strategy.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Dec. 2025
Some are also fortified with vitamins, minerals, or probiotics to provide extra benefits, so check the label.
—Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 29 Dec. 2025
His plan is to use them to fortify his powers and merge the two worlds together.
—Carrie Wittmer, Glamour, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fortify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortify
Verb
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Hodges braced himself against a metal door frame to his right.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
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But this year, investors should brace for the possibility outperforming shares will collide with reality, billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio warned on Monday.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That voice continued to echo during Tuesday’s meeting as environmental advocates are moving to strengthen the Marine Protected Area network and coastlines.—
Chaewon Chung
Updated January 6,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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Even short bouts of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, can lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, boost mood and strengthen the heart.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As usual, the best path to ready yourself and your home is by being proactive—and nothing is more prep-minded that getting rid of things that only add clutter to your home.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
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Vietnam’s Prime Minister urged the country’s emergency response agencies and ministries to ready themselves as the country braces for the impact of the typhoon.—
Rajeev Tyagi,
ABC News,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fortify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortify. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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