Synonyms of strengthen

strengthen

verb

ˈstreŋ(k)-thən 

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

• harden
• fortify
• toughen
• energize
• temper
• beef (up)
• invigorate
• vitalize
• tone (up)
• anneal
• firm (up)
• restrengthen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weaken
• hurt
• impair
• cripple
• paralyze
• injure
• harm
• damage
• debilitate
• enfeeble
• undermine
• enervate
• incapacitate
• wear out
• break down
• undercut
• sap

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fortify
• harden
• adjust
• bolster
• reinforce
• toughen
• inure
• steel
• adapt
• brace
• season
• boost
• support
• invigorate
• indurate
• vitalize
• enforce
• acclimate
• acclimatize
• temper
• immunize
• buttress
• anneal
• condition
• accustom
• train
• break in
• prop (up)
• habituate
• naturalize
• forearm
• limber (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soften
• weaken
• exhaust
• emasculate
• sap
• cripple
• hamstring
• incapacitate
• sensitize
• enfeeble
• enervate
• debilitate

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• enhance
• intensify
• deepen
• heighten
• consolidate
• reinforce
• broaden
• boost
• sharpen
• amplify
• expand
• redouble
• accentuate
• step up
• augment
• emphasize
• magnify
• extend
• lengthen
• beef (up)
• enforce
• accelerate
• maximize
• supplement
• enlarge
• amp (up)
• hasten
• quicken
• point (up)
• enliven
• restrengthen
• exacerbate
• stress
• aggravate
• jazz (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reduce
• weaken
• decrease
• diminish
• moderate
• tone (down)
• lessen
• abate
• subdue
• recede
• alleviate
• subside
• lighten
• ease
• let up (on)
• wane
• dwindle
• taper (off)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fortify
• brace
• ready
• nerve
• steel
• reinforce
• bolster
• enforce
• forearm
• poise
• psych (up)
• arm
• sustain
• encourage
• inure
• harden
• comfort
• buttress
• inspire
• toughen
• boost
• support
• season
• rouse
• embolden
• stir
• rally
• prop (up)
• hearten
• buoy (up)
• cheer (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shake
• discourage
• undermine
• demoralize
• weaken
• daunt
• unnerve
• soften
• dishearten
• undercut
• debilitate
• psych (out)
• dispirit
• enfeeble
• sap
• tire
• prostrate
• enervate

5

as in to stiffen

to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe

a bill was introduced to strengthen punishments for hate crimes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stiffen
• toughen
• harden
• harshen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ease
• lessen
• soften
• ameliorate
• moderate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of strengthen

The goal, officials say, is to strengthen China’s geopolitical position by collecting as much data as possible that can be used for espionage purposes. — Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Adaptive reuse and contextual infill development have strengthened neighborhoods by preserving what is irreplaceable while allowing contemporary architecture to occupy sites that do not contain protected historic resources. — Todd Baisch, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026

The smoke is expected to thin from west to east, allowing more sunshine to heat the region and potentially strengthen the storms. — Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 17 July 2026

That is, unless ongoing, face-to-face diplomacy is strengthened and professionalized. — Anthony Wanis-St John, The Conversation, 10 July 2026