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
The United States partners with the Government of Nigeria to strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism capabilities, working together toward the elimination of terrorist organizations and their networks of support.
—
Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Advertisement But bodies are living things who are entitled to change, strengthen, soften, expand, and spill out as evidence of a life lived—not a life restricted.
—Mari Andrew, Time, 1 July 2025
The House of Representatives recently held a hearing that explored strengthening American manufacturing, specifically in the medical space.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
On the other hand, businesses, research institutions and government bodies should strengthen their partnerships to foster an environment conducive to innovation.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Advertisement But bodies are living things who are entitled to change, strengthen, soften, expand, and spill out as evidence of a life lived—not a life restricted.
—Mari Andrew, Time, 1 July 2025
The House of Representatives recently held a hearing that explored strengthening American manufacturing, specifically in the medical space.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
On the other hand, businesses, research institutions and government bodies should strengthen their partnerships to foster an environment conducive to innovation.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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Iran rejects tight restrictions on its nuclear program and has hardened its stance after Israel and the U.S. targeted its nuclear facilities in June.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
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They’d be hardened to anything that life and work threw their way.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Verb
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Following the January departure of Flos B&B Italia’s chief executive officer, luxury veteran Daniel Lalonde, its new management has been focused on fortifying each firm in its portfolio before selling them off.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
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But with the move into Texas, the conference took a small but significant step to fortifying itself for the next round of realignment chaos.—
Jon Wilner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Rainy weather driving tips Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 July 2025
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But with a smart approach, mirrors can truly enhance a space.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 July 2025
Verb
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Born into the cult, Prophet draws comparisons between the group’s apocalyptic dogma (braced for a Soviet nuclear strike, the church built extensive Montana bomb shelters in the early 1990s), and Christian Nationalism, QAnon and the MAGA movement.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Colorado’s health department is bracing for several layoffs early next month for workers focused on cancer and heart disease prevention, thanks to the apparent loss of nearly $2 million in federal grant funding and the state’s own bleak fiscal outlook.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
28 June 2025
Verb
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Many Republicans would like to stiffen the work requirements by requiring work of recipients who are up to age 65 or are the parents of children who are more than six years old.—
Tracy Roof,
The Conversation,
1 Apr. 2025
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The Police Department, along with representatives from AT&T and Spectrum, are urging lawmakers to stiffen the penalties for cable theft.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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These agents can independently plan campaigns, test variations, adjust budgets and even launch A/B tests without human intervention.—
Saul Marquez,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
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As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Recent layoff announcements have only intensified these concerns.—
C200,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
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But as the strikes intensified, targeting infrastructure and killing ordinary citizens, many Iranians began to conclude that the attacks were not merely a war against the regime but a war against the nation itself.—
MOHAMMAD AYATOLLAHI TABAAR,
Foreign Affairs,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Following the recommendations from the NWS helps bolster your safety during air quality alerts, minimizing your exposure to potentially harmful pollutants.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Oc Register,
12 July 2025
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In Vance’s home state of Ohio, U.S. Secret Service members bolstered a tiny crowd of 8,239, surveying the 26,000-seat venue and surrounding areas for any threat to a man who ranks first in the country’s presidential line of succession.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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