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
With the opening of Beauty Hub, Shanghai further strengthens its role as a global center for beauty industry exchange — connecting international brands, emerging technologies and new consumer markets.
—
Johannes Neubacher, Footwear News, 13 Mar. 2026
Leaders can start by following a simple framework to strengthen mental fitness.
—Elan Gepner-Dales, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026
Of course, some of today’s industrial Goliaths may be disrupted by the AI newcomers, while others will only strengthen through innovations.
—François Candelon, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
The list is based on current forecast data at time of publication, but if conditions strengthen, northern lights could reach much farther south than expected.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Johannes Neubacher, Footwear News, 13 Mar. 2026
Leaders can start by following a simple framework to strengthen mental fitness.
—Elan Gepner-Dales, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026
Of course, some of today’s industrial Goliaths may be disrupted by the AI newcomers, while others will only strengthen through innovations.
—François Candelon, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
The list is based on current forecast data at time of publication, but if conditions strengthen, northern lights could reach much farther south than expected.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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But as hip-hop hardened and matured, so did the expectations.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
19 Mar. 2026
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And Iran's retaliatory attacks on surrounding Arab Gulf states may not win Tehran any new regional friends, but could also further harden dismay at Israel's actions.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Soon came news of the return of star tight end Travis Kelce, a vital presence whose encore season on the surface doesn’t signify change but figures to be in a modified role as the Chiefs should be compelled to fortify what faded into an erratic wide receiver corps.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
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Our natural defenses such as mangroves and dunes must be fortified — not destroyed.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There are eight valid reasons to rename a street, including honoring a person and enhancing a neighborhood through the association of a street name with its location, area characteristics, and history.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
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But that 34-day war only further enhanced Hezbollah’s position in Lebanon as a powerful armed militia, operating outside of government reach while at the same time — particularly since 2008 – actually being part of the government and having effective control over it.—
Asher Kaufman,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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American Jews have been bracing themselves for further violence since the war in Iran started.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
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But the $110 billion sale of WBD to Paramount that Zaslav has orchestrated hung over the festivities, as the industry braces for the thousands of layoffs that will result from the consolidation.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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What began as breathlessness hardened into silicosis, an irreversible disease that stiffens the lungs until even ordinary movement becomes effort.—
Dr. Céline Gounder,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
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After the deputies put him back into the chair, Mitchell’s body stiffened, with his legs straight in front of him and his head lolling back.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On Thursday, the Senate passed a broad bipartisan bill on housing, which seeks to adjust policies to increase construction and limit institutional ownership of home development.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
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Acting in a movie involves a lot of waiting around, too—as the crew repositions cameras and adjusts the lighting, among other things—and those lulls provided me with plenty of time to feel queasy with anxiety.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If so, that would intensify the competition between him and last year's portal addition Jordan Shaw, as the duo aims to replace Tyreek Chappell after his eligibility expires.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
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The sun, wind, noise, boat vibration and motion can intensify the effects of alcohol and drugs which can quickly impair coordination, judgment and reaction time.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The drug not only bolstered dendrites but also improved the rats’ behaviors.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
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The recording bolsters the appearance that Nathan’s The Agency Group — a top PR shop in the entertainment industry whose clients have included Drake and Johnny Depp, and has frequently worked with Freedman — deployed websites featuring character-assassinating claims about Ghost.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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