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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
This election could not have changed that majority, but the outcome could have determined whether UTLA would strengthen its hand or whether other constituencies — such as charters — would gain a measure of power at the union’s expense.
—
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Sweeney’s task will be to maintain or strengthen the Magic’s defense while improving an offense that often struggled in the half court.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Through this lens, setbacks become points of reflection, offering insight that strengthens future judgment.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Employees who believe that AI strengthens their careers report higher engagement, loyalty, and discretionary effort than those who believe AI weakens their prospects.
—Matt Rosenbaum, Fortune, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Sweeney’s task will be to maintain or strengthen the Magic’s defense while improving an offense that often struggled in the half court.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Through this lens, setbacks become points of reflection, offering insight that strengthens future judgment.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Employees who believe that AI strengthens their careers report higher engagement, loyalty, and discretionary effort than those who believe AI weakens their prospects.
—Matt Rosenbaum, Fortune, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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Enterprises that spent years hardening endpoints, strengthening identity controls and building sophisticated security operations centers are now layering AI capabilities on top of existing environments without adapting the controls needed to govern them securely.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Dark lunar maria are visible sprawling across the moon's surface, where lava once rose to the surface before hardening to form enormous basaltic plains.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The five-day trade fair drew Black businesspersons from dozens of states, fortifying Jackson’s assertion that economic development is the way to Black power.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
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In his lethal line of work, Lobo comes fortified with an arsenal of guns, blades, grenades, and a wicked titanium chain equipped with a sharp hook.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Hospitals across the state are committed to enhancing outcomes for new and expectant mothers.—
Mary C. Mayhew,
Sun Sentinel,
4 June 2026
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Huang said Dallas is also enhancing its mosquito surveillance by monitoring not only for West Nile virus, which is endemic in the region, but also diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Verb
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England are braced for potential disruption to their two warm-up friendlies in Florida, against New Zealand in Tampa on Saturday, and Costa Rica in Orlando on June 10.—
Dan Kilpatrick,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
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Although the novel’s center does not quite hold, O’Farrell’s emotional intelligence — the heart and heat of her characters — braces this sometimes unwieldy chronicle of a nation that has been subject to cumbrous historic agonies.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Volkswagen’s premium Audi brand has lost much of its luster in recent years, dragged down by trade tariffs, stiffening competition and a patchy electric-vehicle roster.—
William Wilkes,
Bloomberg,
8 June 2026
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Chronic inflammation damages blood vessels, stiffening them and increasing resistance.—
Jennifer Berger,
Verywell Health,
1 June 2026
Verb
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The supply and demand parameters have to be adjusted to a conscious mean.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
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Immediately, some Southern states adjusted their primaries to give them time to change voting districts.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Jury convicted Anthony earlier Tuesday The jury convicted Anthony of murder in the stabbing death of 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco ISD track meet – a case that drew national attention and intensified conversations about self‑defense, race, and safety at school events.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
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However, the Fund noted that a prolonged or intensified conflict could negatively affect medium-term growth and investment prospects.—
Melissa Hancock,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The weekend also presents an ideal opportunity to bolster the defensive front.—
Jeff Sentell,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
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Europe bolsters military alliances over Russia fears Mounting concern in Europe over Russia’s military ambitions — and a lack of confidence in US support — is driving new defense alliances across the continent.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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