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

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

Daily neck strengthening will become a routine habit, not a rehab exercise. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 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

Road-traffic deaths are preventable, through strengthening of public transit, improvement of trauma care, adoption of existing technology and especially thoughtful road design, which can be as cheap and simple as narrowing lanes to reduce speeds. — Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Pilates is a full-body, low-impact, high-intensity workout that focuses on core strengthening. — Mellanie Perez, Health, 20 July 2026

Verb

Phillips takes his task of strengthening the Panthers’ pass rush seriously. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 12 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

Most organizations respond to growth by strengthening structure. — Adam Povlitz, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

The United States is set to take the lead in the Geneva Consensus Declaration, an international agreement focused on promoting women’s health, strengthening families, and affirming the protection of human life. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026

The Cubs also improved to 32-15 since June 11, strengthening their hold on the top spot in the NL wild-card standings. — CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

El Niño is very rapidly strengthening The primary reason is the strengthening El Niño in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which has global weather impacts. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026

His campaign priorities included prioritizing equitable tax reform, expanding public transportation programs and affordable housing incentives, and strengthening Jackson County’s moratorium on private detention centers. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026

The gallery says the project is about strengthening public engagement and ensuring its future reflects a broader cross-section of society, not replacing expert decision-making. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 4 Aug. 2026