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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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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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,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Seek shelter in a sturdy structure until the storm has passed.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Johnson’s own tone has hardened as the week has worn on.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
-
It had been hardened too much for an emotion so soft.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
True happiness starts at home and is fortified by internal self-worth.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
His presence fortified the trail’s grapevine, with both hikers and people who live in the small towns that line the AT sharing news of his movements.—
Grayson Haver Currin,
Outside,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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By 2022, nationalist rhetoric from Yameen and his Progressive Party coalition intensified into a demand for the expulsion of the Indian troops stationed in the country.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The 27-year-old running back joked about the celebration and braced for a possible fine during his postgame comments on Sunday.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Devastated, Abel braced for what felt like an endless wait for a transplant.—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But Vance Joseph's unit adjusted and stiffened quickly, shouldering the entire weight of a football game.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Drew stiffened as Theo Wiggins headed his way.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 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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Google, Meta, Microsoft’s LinkedIn, and Elon Musk’s X have all delayed, adjusted, or flat-out refused to launch AI products because of the bloc’s laws.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
10 Nov. 2025
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What’s more, your defense adjusted, digging in its heels, getting to Northwestern’s running backs closer to the line of scrimmage so that the Wildcats gained only 28 yards on the ground in the second half after rushing for 102 in the first.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthened. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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