1
as in bracing
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 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
In public, Newsom speaks often and openly about his errors, fortifying his image as a bumptious, slightly hapless victim of his own enthusiasms.
—
Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Canada’s defense commitment Canada has spent nearly a billion dollars fortifying its southern border.
—Paula Newton, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
Shifting the team’s focus to 2027 Hayes’s attention will soon shift to fortifying her roster with the strongest candidates for World Cup qualifiers this year.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The ensuing film combines soul with CGI, fortifying the lofty reputation Pixar had already built by 2001, just six years into its theatrical run.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Instead of fortifying their position, the Pats watched while a few competitors stocked up around them.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
Brandon Bell / Getty Images Since then, people have been fortifying dike systems to contain the water, often building housing and industrial buildings as close to the edge as flood plain planners allow.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
From fortifying diagnostic accuracy to filling up electronic medical records (EMRs), AI is helping to ease the workload of healthcare professionals worldwide.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2025
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman also noted that the team is interested in fortifying the rotation with Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole slated to miss the start of the year.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Canada’s defense commitment Canada has spent nearly a billion dollars fortifying its southern border.
—Paula Newton, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
Shifting the team’s focus to 2027 Hayes’s attention will soon shift to fortifying her roster with the strongest candidates for World Cup qualifiers this year.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The ensuing film combines soul with CGI, fortifying the lofty reputation Pixar had already built by 2001, just six years into its theatrical run.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Instead of fortifying their position, the Pats watched while a few competitors stocked up around them.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
Brandon Bell / Getty Images Since then, people have been fortifying dike systems to contain the water, often building housing and industrial buildings as close to the edge as flood plain planners allow.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
From fortifying diagnostic accuracy to filling up electronic medical records (EMRs), AI is helping to ease the workload of healthcare professionals worldwide.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2025
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman also noted that the team is interested in fortifying the rotation with Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole slated to miss the start of the year.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortifying
Verb
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Doctors, meanwhile, are bracing for a flood of new patients seeking the injections – some, like Chamadia, who medically qualify, and others drawn by the lure of a quick fix.—
Ayushi Shah,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
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Almost two weeks after the heaviest snow and sleet storm in a decade, Maryland is bracing for the coldest temperatures this winter.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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By strengthening the project’s audience awareness and impact readiness, the award helps filmmakers translate artistic vision into clear audience connection and market presence.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Feb. 2026
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The body uses collagen as a method for creating or strengthening organic material.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fortifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortifying. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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