strengthened 1 of 2

strengthened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of strengthen
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
5
as in stiffened
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe a bill was introduced to strengthen punishments for hate crimes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strengthened
Verb
The first direct link between alcohol use and cancer was first established in the late 1980s, and evidence for this link has strengthened over time, according to the report. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2025 Dubai Duty Free also strengthened its senior management team with eight senior managers appointed to key roles, including seven UAE nationals. Kevin Rozario, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025 Henry strengthened a strength, but where this offense has made its biggest strides is in the passing game. Tim Graham, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025 Experts warn the island will keep struggling to attract investors until the debt is restructured and the power grid strengthened. Dánica Coto, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025 Experts warn that the island will continue to struggle to attract investors until the debt is restructured and the power grid is strengthened. Dánica Coto, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 Jan. 2025 Having only strengthened its squad last summer, the Spanish champion certainly looks likely to achieve that feat. Neel Shelat, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025 His command of coach Sean McVay’s offense has always been a valuable asset, including run checks, and Stafford has strengthened his connection with wideout Puka Nacua. Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 Advances in surveillance technology, deeper insights into the drivers of disease spread, and strengthened global collaborations are helping scientists and public health authorities to better anticipate and mitigate risks. John Drake, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthened
Adjective
  • Best Minimalist Pick: Kuru Flex Via Kuru may specialize in sturdy, supportive shoes—but that doesn’t mean all of its pairs feel clunky.
    Sara Coughlin, SELF, 1 May 2025
  • It’s also loaded with features like USB passthrough and a sturdy wrist rest.
    Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • European colonial rule hardened the distinction.
    Emmet Livingstone, The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The company doesn't say if the glass is hardened against breakage like Gorilla Glass.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • What hope had been fortified in the first half Wednesday had faded by the second.
    Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
  • It is often fortified with iodine, a trace element necessary for thyroid health.
    Lindsey DeSoto, Health, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The stock market endured its worst day of the year this week and fears of a recession have intensified.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
  • That fear — which initially arose after at least six staff members developed breast cancer from 2013 to 2022 — has only intensified after a beloved teacher died last fall and another at Warren Hills Elementary was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
    Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • At exactly noon on New Year’s Day, about 20 people braced their feet against the silty shore of Lake Natoma, hopping and fidgeting to warm themselves.
    Annika Merrilees, Sacramento Bee, 1 Jan. 2025
  • Trinidad and Tobago declared a state of emergency on Monday as the government braced for reprisal shootings after an attempt on a gang leader’s life, officials said.
    Reuters, NBC News, 30 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The asset limit under the bill would be automatically adjusted for inflation on a biennial basis.
    Josh Snyder, Arkansas Online, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The stand also serves as a lens cover during transport, and the unit will automatically power on when the stand is adjusted for viewing.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As the recession deepened and unemployment shot higher, the interest and the penalties on Natale’s loans compounded much faster than her ability to move up the ladder to higher paying jobs.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Those convictions were only deepened in the spring and summer of 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic and post-George Floyd protests.
    Alexander Nazaryan, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s symbolism there—all that tough, hard-to-crack shell hiding a shining pearl—that lends itself well to a tattoo.
    Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Published in English, Tehelka had a small circulation but an outsized reputation for tough investigations.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Strengthened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthened. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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