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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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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
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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
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5
as in stiffening
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
a bill was introduced to strengthen punishments for hate crimes
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as in reviving
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as in increase
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthening
Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Its soothing, strengthening, and hydrating properties would surely do my complexion well in the dry, tepid desert, but these benefits certainly ring true in any climate!
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2025
The hurricane center said Melissa is located about 300 miles south of Port-Au-Prince with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph with higher gusts, with gradual strengthening expected during the next few days.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Sustained winds of around 75 mph (120 kph) were recorded with some additional strengthening expected.
—Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Songs, reporting, and the strengthening of community under unlikely circumstances threaten the regime’s existence.
—Fatemeh Jamalpour, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
The company said the bulk of the proceeds will fund the strengthening of its cloud infrastructure and international operations.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
In mid-September, the upper atmosphere and wind shear should become more favorable for the formation and strengthening of storms, Jennifer Francis, an atmospheric scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, told ABC News.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
The polar vortex is beginning its seasonal strengthening, signaling a gradual shift toward cooler weather.
—Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 25 Oct. 2025
The Office of Special Education is tasked with supporting and monitoring state compliance and strengthening special education services covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
—K. Ward Cummings, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean are staring down what could become a catastrophic, days-long assault of extreme rainfall and damaging winds with a strengthening Tropical Storm Melissa expected to become a major hurricane over some of the hottest ocean water on the planet.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
The election's two front-runners have both pledged to make improvements in education, including strengthening communication between Detroit's school district and the city.
—Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Partnering with nonprofits, developers, and CHDOs ensures resources are used wisely while protecting neighborhoods and strengthening our community.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
Enhance the member experience by strengthening volunteer support.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2025
The company’s 100 or so coaches primarily offer services within the romantic relationship context, from relationship strengthening to help for those looking to find a partner.
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025
If a player had a weak hamstring, a strengthening programme would be put in place; the same can and should apply to the pelvic floor.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
This explosive strengthening is happening more often as the world warms due to fossil fuel pollution.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Its soothing, strengthening, and hydrating properties would surely do my complexion well in the dry, tepid desert, but these benefits certainly ring true in any climate!
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2025
The hurricane center said Melissa is located about 300 miles south of Port-Au-Prince with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph with higher gusts, with gradual strengthening expected during the next few days.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Sustained winds of around 75 mph (120 kph) were recorded with some additional strengthening expected.
—Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Songs, reporting, and the strengthening of community under unlikely circumstances threaten the regime’s existence.
—Fatemeh Jamalpour, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
The company said the bulk of the proceeds will fund the strengthening of its cloud infrastructure and international operations.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
In mid-September, the upper atmosphere and wind shear should become more favorable for the formation and strengthening of storms, Jennifer Francis, an atmospheric scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, told ABC News.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
The polar vortex is beginning its seasonal strengthening, signaling a gradual shift toward cooler weather.
—Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Sherman Phoenix board of directors has committed to strengthening leadership and accountability.
—La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 25 Oct. 2025
The Office of Special Education is tasked with supporting and monitoring state compliance and strengthening special education services covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
—K. Ward Cummings, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean are staring down what could become a catastrophic, days-long assault of extreme rainfall and damaging winds with a strengthening Tropical Storm Melissa expected to become a major hurricane over some of the hottest ocean water on the planet.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
The election's two front-runners have both pledged to make improvements in education, including strengthening communication between Detroit's school district and the city.
—Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Partnering with nonprofits, developers, and CHDOs ensures resources are used wisely while protecting neighborhoods and strengthening our community.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
Enhance the member experience by strengthening volunteer support.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2025
The company’s 100 or so coaches primarily offer services within the romantic relationship context, from relationship strengthening to help for those looking to find a partner.
—Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025
If a player had a weak hamstring, a strengthening programme would be put in place; the same can and should apply to the pelvic floor.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthening
Verb
-
The finale opens in the stillness that follows, grief hardening into vengeance.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The ad, purchased by the government of Ontario and broadcast on major US television networks, aired clips of the address, delivered from Camp David, where Reagan was soon to meet the prime minister of Japan at a time when American attitudes toward Japan were hardening.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the All’s Fair actress and soon-to-be-attorney has been quietly fortifying her Hidden Hills compound.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Hunter, acquired at the trade deadline last season in a move viewed at the time as fortifying an already stout roster, will likely be a mainstay in the starting lineup, at least while Strus is out.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Amazon is the latest big company to announce layoffs, deepening concerns ahead of the Fed’s meeting this week that the labor market is weakening.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Their audiences vary dramatically, but there is unquestionably a gap deepening in real time.—
David Zucker,
Deadline,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As the federal government shutdown drags into its 24th day, millions of American families are bracing for the possibility that November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not arrive on time.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Tracy’s dialogue, though absent the staccato non sequiturs of the director’s earlier work, has a bracing nastiness; every visual flourish and every menacing thrum of the score, by Jerskin Fendrix, escalates the intensity of Stone and Plemons’s bravura showdown.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Afterwards, a squaring solution—a powdery mixture of water and a gel-like batter used in the decorative cake business—is applied to the inside of the hat’s crown to act as a stiffening agent.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
3 Oct. 2025
-
China has been a consistent source of stress for Apple, given the stiffening smartphone competition and its huge manufacturing presence in the country.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For some animals, increases in carbs could cause acidosis and be fatal.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Managing this amount of data is extremely difficult and requires massive amounts of computing power, but the information is becoming more accurate every day as the number of sightings increase.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Here’s how cruise ship companies are adjusting as of Monday morning.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
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The head coach is continuing to favour long, direct passes into attack, and his team look stronger defensively since adjusting their structure when out of possession.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
These vision-enhancing tools were only available at great cost, and thus only the upper echelon of society’s members was able to access them.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Taiwan, too, should keep enhancing its civil and military defenses while restraining its assertions of sovereignty in cross-strait affairs.—
STEPHEN WERTHEIM,
Foreign Affairs,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthening. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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