1
as in bracing
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
Kelly fortified herself for the basketball tournament with a series of confidence-boosting exercises
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in strengthening
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 hardening
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 fortifying
Meanwhile, the All’s Fair actress and soon-to-be-attorney has been quietly fortifying her Hidden Hills compound.
—
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
Hunter, acquired at the trade deadline last season in a move viewed at the time as fortifying an already stout roster, will likely be a mainstay in the starting lineup, at least while Strus is out.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Once that decision is made, Posey and the rest of the Giants’ brass will shift its attention to fortifying their roster, generally, and their pitching depth, specifically.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
All three have prompted an increase in security inquiries and interest in fortifying existing security, Kucera said, starting with executive clients and now from universities.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025
If readings reach dangerous levels, astronauts can construct a makeshift radiation shield inside Orion, fortifying themselves between the spacecraft's heatshield and water storage canisters, both of which are better at absorbing penetrating radiation than other onboard materials.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Just this past offseason Miami put an emphasis on fortifying the trenches, correcting a past wrong, adding players with size and girth on the offensive and defensive line via the NFL Draft.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
In the ultra-competitive Western Conference, the purple and gold will be looking to continue fortifying their roster, likely through the start of the regular season, with the trade deadline of February 6th circled on their calendar.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
This healing blend is powered by Ayurvedic ingredients like virgin amla oil and brahmi, two staples in traditional hair remedies known for fortifying strands and stimulating hair growth.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Sep. 2025
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
Hunter, acquired at the trade deadline last season in a move viewed at the time as fortifying an already stout roster, will likely be a mainstay in the starting lineup, at least while Strus is out.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Once that decision is made, Posey and the rest of the Giants’ brass will shift its attention to fortifying their roster, generally, and their pitching depth, specifically.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
All three have prompted an increase in security inquiries and interest in fortifying existing security, Kucera said, starting with executive clients and now from universities.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025
If readings reach dangerous levels, astronauts can construct a makeshift radiation shield inside Orion, fortifying themselves between the spacecraft's heatshield and water storage canisters, both of which are better at absorbing penetrating radiation than other onboard materials.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Just this past offseason Miami put an emphasis on fortifying the trenches, correcting a past wrong, adding players with size and girth on the offensive and defensive line via the NFL Draft.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
In the ultra-competitive Western Conference, the purple and gold will be looking to continue fortifying their roster, likely through the start of the regular season, with the trade deadline of February 6th circled on their calendar.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
This healing blend is powered by Ayurvedic ingredients like virgin amla oil and brahmi, two staples in traditional hair remedies known for fortifying strands and stimulating hair growth.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortifying
Verb
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States, food banks and SNAP recipients have been bracing for an abrupt shift in how low-income people can get groceries.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
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With projects bracing for termination, mission teams broken apart and safety protocols weakened, the guardrails that once kept NASA from repeating its worst tragedies are being stripped away in real time.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Sherman Phoenix board of directors has committed to strengthening leadership and accountability.—
La Risa R. Lynch,
jsonline.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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The Office of Special Education is tasked with supporting and monitoring state compliance and strengthening special education services covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).—
K. Ward Cummings,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fortifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortifying. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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