1
as in to harden
to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force
lifting weights every day will eventually strengthen your muscles the army makes new recruits run for miles in order to strengthen them
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fortify
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
required weeks of physical therapy to strengthen his arm enough to pitch for the team again
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3
as in to enhance
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
encouraged the boarding school students to strengthen their ties with the community by doing public service
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4
as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
strengthened herself for the moment she'd have to tell her friend that she had lost the borrowed necklace
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthen
Plaintiffs in both have raised First Amendment concerns that will likely be strengthened by the Chiles decision.
—
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
The behavior suggests bots may act not from a place of mere self-interest, but with awareness that the bot’s own shutdown would be detrimental to a peer AI, which strengthened motivation to defy user requests.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Healthcare providers, insurers and technology vendors must strengthen cybersecurity protections as attacks on medical data continue to rise.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Socializing can boost longevity by reducing stress and strengthening the immune system.
—Sharon Basaraba, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
The behavior suggests bots may act not from a place of mere self-interest, but with awareness that the bot’s own shutdown would be detrimental to a peer AI, which strengthened motivation to defy user requests.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Healthcare providers, insurers and technology vendors must strengthen cybersecurity protections as attacks on medical data continue to rise.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Socializing can boost longevity by reducing stress and strengthening the immune system.
—Sharon Basaraba, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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The work only repaired and hardened about 10% of what was lost.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
But Iran, which watched the 2003 toppling of Saddam Hussein next door, has been hardening its regime ever since.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Slivers of domestic Wagyu tenderloin sit in a deep salsa negra fortified with soy sauce.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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Celebrity hairstylist Sami Knight recommends focusing on products that support scalp health and strengthen the hair fibers — like the Epres bond repair treatment, which can repair and fortify damaged strands.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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Barco notes that Lightsteering redistributes existing light instead of demand- ing more, enhancing contrast and brightness without consuming more energy (and adding to energy bills).—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But he had been braced for the possibility and immediately set his mind on using that time to his advantage.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Maritime traffic to South Africa has jumped as shipping companies look for safer routes around the Cape of Good Hope — even if the journey is much longer and pricier — while Tanger Med, Africa’s largest container port, is bracing for a surge in demand.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Officials this year have increased restrictions on flying drones and stiffened the penalties for their unauthorized use—including jail time.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
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The woman—Rose, apparently—stiffens slightly.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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All numbers were adjusted for seasonal volatility.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Still, energy analysts note global markets tend to adjust over time — even if short-term disruptions can lead to temporary price spikes.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rumours of a temporary switch to Girona intensified in the Spanish media.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Disagreements with the board are a routine part of C-suite life, but the transformative potential of AI—and the speed at which successful companies are moving from experimentation to application—has intensified the pressure significantly.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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From confirmation to downfall During her confirmation hearings, Bondi promised to safeguard the Justice Department’s independence and bolster its transparency.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
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In a cash crunch, streaming subscriptions also tend to be casualties, which only bolsters the value of over-the-air TV when Americans are keeping a tight grip on their checkbooks.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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