as in sturdy
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1
as in hardened
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 fortified
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 intensified
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 braced
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 strengthened
Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch has said several operations already underway in Michoacán, including arresting those involved in organized crime, would be strengthened.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
The company has strengthened its creative leadership and expanded its development teams, now overseeing 11 projects currently in production.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
History is also full of examples of women making groundbreaking contributions that have strengthened the military.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The collaboration expands on BMW and Solid Power’s work since 2022, now strengthened by Samsung SDI’s experience in large-scale cell manufacturing and materials engineering.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
Less than 24 hours later, Melissa strengthened to major hurricane status.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Although Voodoo had been present in Louisiana since the early 18th century, the influx of Haitian immigrants after the Haitian Revolution (1809), strengthened the practice in the region.
—Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
The partnership strengthened the brand’s presence in Paris following the success of its Olympics and fashion week programs, with another large-scale event planned during the men’s collections next January.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
The storm has strengthened into the equivalent of a Category 4 Hurricane and is expected to hit central Vietnam Thursday night — an area that hasn’t yet recovered from disastrous flash flooding and landslides caused by weeks of record rainfall and successive storms.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch has said several operations already underway in Michoacán, including arresting those involved in organized crime, would be strengthened.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
The company has strengthened its creative leadership and expanded its development teams, now overseeing 11 projects currently in production.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
History is also full of examples of women making groundbreaking contributions that have strengthened the military.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The collaboration expands on BMW and Solid Power’s work since 2022, now strengthened by Samsung SDI’s experience in large-scale cell manufacturing and materials engineering.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
Less than 24 hours later, Melissa strengthened to major hurricane status.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Although Voodoo had been present in Louisiana since the early 18th century, the influx of Haitian immigrants after the Haitian Revolution (1809), strengthened the practice in the region.
—Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
The partnership strengthened the brand’s presence in Paris following the success of its Olympics and fashion week programs, with another large-scale event planned during the men’s collections next January.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthened
Adjective
-
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The shearling is still fluffy, and the soles are sturdy.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
It had been hardened too much for an emotion so soft.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
-
And his immigration policies seem only to have hardened since then.—
Patricia Lopez,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Cream of wheat is often fortified with iron and B vitamins, while oatmeal provides fiber and several essential minerals and vitamins.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Today, scientists are still studying its properties, and the high priests of the antisugar brigade are still condemning it, while its romantic and even erotic reputation remains well fortified by Valentine’s Day.—
Aleksandra Crapanzano,
The Atlantic,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The debate in Cincinnati intensified when City Manager Sheryl Long placed Police Chief Teresa Theetge on leave in October and hired a law firm to investigate her job performance.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Nov. 2025
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Twenty other areas in Darfur and Kordofan, where fighting has intensified in recent months, are also at risk of famine, according to the IPC.—
NPR,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Colleges had braced for a significant drop in the number of international students due to changes in federal policies.—
Kelly Meyerhofer,
jsonline.com,
22 Oct. 2025
-
But Preller and others in the organization had braced for Shildt’s potential departure.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Drew stiffened as Theo Wiggins headed his way.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
Trump announced a toughened stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine on Monday, setting a 50-day deadline for Moscow to reach a ceasefire or face sanctions.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
18 July 2025
Verb
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Weights can be adjusted post-fabrication using bistable variable stiffness beams, allowing some matrix entries to switch between positive, negative, or zero.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
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If, as some suspect, the hurricane’s wind speeds are adjusted upward during the hurricane center's post-storm review, Melissa could set a new bar for the fastest winds on record for a landfalling Atlantic storm.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthened. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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