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 this investment round, AltMat shared plans to expand grassroots supply chains for Indian farmers, strengthen research and development as well as extend its global market reach.
—
Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 6 Oct. 2025
This would strengthen China’s role in global security and disaster response.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
Many people keep it nearby to enhance communication and strengthen relationships, as it is believed to encourage openness and harmony.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Scott Kaufman, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, said that many Jews in South Florida have a close connection to Israel, further strengthening the community’s bond to the small country.
—Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 6 Oct. 2025
This would strengthen China’s role in global security and disaster response.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
Many people keep it nearby to enhance communication and strengthen relationships, as it is believed to encourage openness and harmony.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Scott Kaufman, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, said that many Jews in South Florida have a close connection to Israel, further strengthening the community’s bond to the small country.
—Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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Around the same time, Israeli strikes on Damascus and continued clashes in Sweida hardened the idea, inside parts of the Kurdish movement, that the center could break.—
Hassan Hassan,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
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All of it hardened the Mariners, preparing them for survival.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The wide receiver spot has been fortified more with four-stars and transfers, the result being depth.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Many high-calcium foods offer more calcium than milk per serving, including sardines, tofu, sesame seeds, soy milk, collard greens, certain cheeses, and fortified juices and cereals.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Keney innovations include RibbonFET, a new transistor architecture enabling efficient scaling, and PowerVia, a backside power delivery system enhancing energy flow.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
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Cal Fire helicopter pilots will be training over three nights, starting Thursday, in the Sacramento area using night-vision goggles to enhance their ability to fight wildfires in the dark.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Wooden vessels for polar exploration typically reinforced the hulls internally with diagonal support beams, which braced the sides of the ship against lateral compression from powerful sea ice, said Tuhkuri, who researches the mechanics of ice.—
Mindy Weisberger,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
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On October 4, the 33-year-old pop star shared a clip that has fans bracing for more Taylor Swift discourse.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For every mention of the Chicago Bulls’ trek toward toughness, of their hopes to stiffen the chests in the building and ignite a defensive revamp, Okoro has been the footnote.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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McDaniel made the point that the Dolphins’ defensive line and run defense stiffened somewhat after struggling badly on the first drive.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This is still a team that’s going through the process of adjusting to him and his three new assistants, and is coming off of a training cap that was, well, just OK.—
Kevin Kurz,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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The 21st century’s computer generated gore Around the turn of the millennium, filmmakers turned to CGI to augment their fake blood, adjusting the colors or make their splatter physics a little more convincing.—
Mark Hay,
Popular Science,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Padrino also accused Washington of sharply intensifying aerial surveillance of Venezuela, citing a surge in spy flights last month.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
9 Oct. 2025
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And, as the first phase of his Gaza peace plan makes headway, the focus on the prospect of him winning is intensifying.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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HavocAI put together the new round within three months, Lwin said—bolstering the startup’s total funding raised to nearly $100 million since the company launched just last January.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
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There is more with Misa and Dickinson, as the Sharks bolstered their lineup with more veterans up front and on defense.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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