Synonyms of strengthening

strengthening 1 of 3

adjective

as in reviving

Related Words

• reviving
• conditioning
• stimulating
• rejuvenating
• bracing
• vitalizing
• vital
• refreshing
• restorative
• tonic
• life-giving
• stimulative
• cordial
• invigorating
• therapeutic
• quickening
• beneficial
• animating
• exhilarating
• corrective
• curative
• remedial
• rectifying
• rehabilitative
• curing
• medicinal
• reformative
• reparative
• recuperative
• healthful
• reformatory
• healthy
• helpful
• salutary
• remedying
• exhilarative
• wholesome
• sharp
• salubrious

Dissimilar Words

• weakening
• draining
• debilitating
• deadening
• exhausting
• injurious
• numbing
• pernicious
• deleterious
• sapping
• enfeebling
• enervating
• wearying
• unhealthy
• noxious
• unhealthful
• unwholesome
• insalubrious

strengthening

2 of 3

noun

as in increase

Related Words

• increase
• enhancement
• amelioration
• upswing
• upturn
• heightening
• uplift
• boost
• breakthrough
• advance
• evolution
• betterment
• development
• maturation
• quantum leap
• growth
• melioration
• advancement
• expansion
• uptrend
• upgrade
• education
• refinement
• ripening
• elaboration
• revival
• enlightenment
• edification
• civilization
• renaissance
• perfection
• gestation
• innovation
• find
• discovery
• windfall
• renascence
• invention

Dissimilar Words

• collapse
• breakdown
• crash
• reduction
• decrease
• weakening
• impediment
• hindrance
• failing
• deterioration
• decline
• worsening
• stumbling block
• sinking
• decay
• lessening
• degeneration
• slowing
• lapse
• impairment
• detriment
• descent
• downgrade
• decadence
• declension
• drawback
• shortcoming
• flagging
• diminishment
• disablement
• glitch
• setback
• ebbing
• languishment

strengthening

3 of 3

verb

present participle of strengthen

1

as in hardening

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

• hardening
• fortifying
• tempering
• toughening
• energizing
• beefing (up)
• annealing
• invigorating
• vitalizing
• firming (up)
• toning (up)
• restrengthening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weakening
• crippling
• hurting
• debilitating
• damaging
• impairing
• injuring
• harming
• paralyzing
• undermining
• incapacitating
• enfeebling
• enervating
• breaking down
• undercutting
• wearing out
• sapping

2

as in fortifying

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hardening
• fortifying
• adjusting
• reinforcing
• bolstering
• toughening
• bracing
• inuring
• adapting
• boosting
• steeling
• supporting
• seasoning
• indurating
• enforcing
• tempering
• vitalizing
• acclimating
• invigorating
• immunizing
• buttressing
• conditioning
• annealing
• acclimatizing
• training
• accustoming
• habituating
• propping (up)
• breaking in
• naturalizing
• limbering (up)
• forearming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• softening
• weakening
• exhausting
• sapping
• crippling
• enervating
• debilitating
• incapacitating
• sensitizing
• enfeebling
• emasculating
• hamstringing

3

as in deepening

to make markedly greater in measure or degree

encouraged the boarding school students to strengthen their ties with the community by doing public service

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deepening
• enhancing
• intensifying
• heightening
• consolidating
• reinforcing
• boosting
• broadening
• expanding
• amplifying
• sharpening
• accentuating
• stepping up
• augmenting
• emphasizing
• redoubling
• magnifying
• lengthening
• extending
• enforcing
• accelerating
• beefing (up)
• maximizing
• enlarging
• supplementing
• amping (up)
• hastening
• stressing
• quickening
• pointing (up)
• restrengthening
• enlivening
• exacerbating
• aggravating
• jazzing (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reducing
• decreasing
• moderating
• weakening
• diminishing
• lessening
• abating
• subduing
• waning
• dwindling
• receding
• tapering (off)
• subsiding
• alleviating
• toning (down)
• easing
• lightening
• letting up (on)

4

as in bracing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fortifying
• bracing
• readying
• poising
• reinforcing
• steeling
• bolstering
• forearming
• nerving
• enforcing
• psyching (up)
• arming
• sustaining
• toughening
• buttressing
• hardening
• comforting
• inuring
• boosting
• encouraging
• supporting
• stirring
• inspiring
• rallying
• propping (up)
• seasoning
• rousing
• cheering (up)
• emboldening
• buoying (up)
• heartening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shaking
• discouraging
• daunting
• undermining
• demoralizing
• disheartening
• weakening
• softening
• unnerving
• undercutting
• sapping
• debilitating
• tiring
• dispiriting
• psyching (out)
• enervating
• prostrating
• enfeebling

5

as in stiffening

to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe

a bill was introduced to strengthen punishments for hate crimes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stiffening
• toughening
• hardening
• harshening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easing
• softening
• lessening
• ameliorating
• moderating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of strengthening

Noun

These actions should be paired with measures that expand protections for the United States’ biotech innovation infrastructure, including the strengthening of a national security review process governing foreign investment in the sector. — Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

In response, the OLCI offered a proposal that combines legal reforms and institutional strengthening as well as operational actions. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026

As of Wednesday morning, the chances of strengthening were up to 80% in the next two to seven days. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026

Additional tubing and brackets went into the engine compartment to add extra strengthening. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2026

In Thursday’s announcement, Canal+ highlighted that the new deal would also see a strengthening of its support for new filmmakers and new styles of filmmaking; debut films and emerging talent; diversity film and animated films. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 July 2026

While dealing with an unfortunate situation, the coach and GM could see the players’ camaraderie strengthening. — Molly Keshin, New York Times, 25 July 2026

Late July also marks the gradual strengthening of the Perseid meteor shower, with occasional early meteors now appearing after midnight. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 24 July 2026

While some strengthening is possible, conditions are expected to limit Bertha’s ability to intensify. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 July 2026

Verb

Auction houses are strengthening authentication through specialist research and archives, but online sales remain a particular risk. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Officials will discuss strengthening Iran-Iraq relations, border security, economic cooperation and counterterrorism, among other topics, the broadcaster IRIB reported. — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

As Lala moves west, two new areas of interest are forming in the eastern Pacific, coinciding with a strengthening El Niño, potentially the strongest on record, which could heighten Pacific hurricane activity. — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

That perspective continues to shape his work with organizations focused on strengthening workplace cultures and leadership alignment. — K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026

While the right exercises depend on what’s causing your pain, strengthening and stretching the muscles that support your knee can help reduce stress on the joint and make everyday movement feel more comfortable. — Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 18 Aug. 2026

The approach could improve fuel utilization while reducing long-lived spent fuel volumes and strengthening safety and proliferation-resistance characteristics. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026

Education is expected to be a central issue in those races, with candidates offering competing visions for improving student outcomes and strengthening public schools. — Jason Burns, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026

The first, the hurricane center said Wednesday morning, has an 80% likelihood of strengthening into a tropical depression or storm in the next two to seven days. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026