as in reviving
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as in increase
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthening
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
Plus, check out more strengthening, hair-growth treatments, below—starting at just $9.
—Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Hydrolyzed rice protein helps defend against split ends, while sea buckthorn oil and squalane cushion the cuticle, so strengthening does not lead to stiffness.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 31 Dec. 2025
It’s also made with a strengthening blend of amino acids and violet pigments.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2025
After one of the driest Decembers in decades, Northern and Central California began to see rain again on Tuesday as a strengthening series of storms was set to soak the region, forecasters said.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
The Spartan Village student housing tower also represents a key strengthening of the bonds between San Jose State and downtown, Staedler said.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
By Friday morning, snow chances will increase across Montana, where an upslope snow event may develop under arctic high pressure to the north and a strengthening low over the central High Plains.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 26 Nov. 2025
However, amid reversion of funds and future fiscal changes, locations like The Hive become necessary for community strengthening, engagement and hope.
—Miami Herald, 20 Nov. 2025
Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
While strengthening the midfield is a priority, United want a defensive leader and will be weighing up their options for what’s likely to be a four-man defence now Ruben Amorim has departed.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Another stellar choice for low-impact zone 2 work, swimming is also great for strengthening your core and activating a bunch of different muscles.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 28 Jan. 2026
Early planning also helps identify areas where the business can cut costs or shift priorities, thereby strengthening the overall funding strategy.
—William Jones, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Among its recommendations was strengthening oversight of precursor chemicals used to manufacture fireworks.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The school said Ricci’s tasks include strengthening the institution’s links with the fashion industry, as well as international universities, in addition to the expansion of the academic offering.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
The Celtics, who took three of four from the Pacers, improved to 27-16, strengthening their grip on second place in the East standings.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
The Discovery Partners Institute, in its new chapter, aims to be a hub that connects research, education and entrepreneurship, while further strengthening Illinois’ position as a global center for next-generation technologies, according to a news release.
—Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
It is highly valued for scalable, high-volume production, particularly in energy storage and composite strengthening.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Jan. 2026
Plus, check out more strengthening, hair-growth treatments, below—starting at just $9.
—Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Hydrolyzed rice protein helps defend against split ends, while sea buckthorn oil and squalane cushion the cuticle, so strengthening does not lead to stiffness.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 31 Dec. 2025
It’s also made with a strengthening blend of amino acids and violet pigments.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2025
After one of the driest Decembers in decades, Northern and Central California began to see rain again on Tuesday as a strengthening series of storms was set to soak the region, forecasters said.
—Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
The Spartan Village student housing tower also represents a key strengthening of the bonds between San Jose State and downtown, Staedler said.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
By Friday morning, snow chances will increase across Montana, where an upslope snow event may develop under arctic high pressure to the north and a strengthening low over the central High Plains.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 26 Nov. 2025
However, amid reversion of funds and future fiscal changes, locations like The Hive become necessary for community strengthening, engagement and hope.
—Miami Herald, 20 Nov. 2025
Verb
In an era of instant answers, strengthening critical thinking means resisting automation.
—Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
While strengthening the midfield is a priority, United want a defensive leader and will be weighing up their options for what’s likely to be a four-man defence now Ruben Amorim has departed.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Another stellar choice for low-impact zone 2 work, swimming is also great for strengthening your core and activating a bunch of different muscles.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 28 Jan. 2026
Early planning also helps identify areas where the business can cut costs or shift priorities, thereby strengthening the overall funding strategy.
—William Jones, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Among its recommendations was strengthening oversight of precursor chemicals used to manufacture fireworks.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The school said Ricci’s tasks include strengthening the institution’s links with the fashion industry, as well as international universities, in addition to the expansion of the academic offering.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
The Celtics, who took three of four from the Pacers, improved to 27-16, strengthening their grip on second place in the East standings.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
The Discovery Partners Institute, in its new chapter, aims to be a hub that connects research, education and entrepreneurship, while further strengthening Illinois’ position as a global center for next-generation technologies, according to a news release.
—Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthening
Noun
-
Even so, salary increases remain comparatively high by historic standards (the pre-pandemic norm was 3%) amid higher total labor expenses (which include salaries, bonuses, variable pay and benefits costs).—
John M. Bremen,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The goal is to have office construction increase, said Mike Smith, president and CEO of Charlotte Center City Partners.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To prevent it from hardening altogether, use a terracotta brown sugar keeper to keep the brown sugar moist and fluffy.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Its silvery surface is scarred by dark regions known as lunar maria, where molten lava once flooded enormous impact basins before hardening to create enormous basaltic plains.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Canada’s defense commitment Canada has spent nearly a billion dollars fortifying its southern border.—
Paula Newton,
CNN Money,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Shifting the team’s focus to 2027 Hayes’s attention will soon shift to fortifying her roster with the strongest candidates for World Cup qualifiers this year.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The one-day workshop brings together Phambassadors for speaker sessions, storytelling workshops and community-building — all in the name of deepening the Philly love.—
Nikki DeMentri,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Born Again is a worthy follow-up to its original series, deepening its themes of corruption and justice with Cox and D'Onofrio continuing to deliver committed performances.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Like O’Leary, elder care industry leaders nationwide are bracing for the loss of a key pillar of their workforce.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Ordering a bracing cold martini that kisses the rim just feels right in a space like this.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Czech Republic’s new government will seek to transform the defense industry into an engine of the nation’s export economy as the flagship auto sector faces stiffening competition, Karel Havlicek, minister for industry and trade, told us.—
Suzanne Lynch,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
-
These include stiffening of blood vessels, changes in heart muscle function and impaired ability of the cardiovascular system to respond to exertion.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Cayenne owners will be able to track charging via their My Porsche app and are able to create pre-conditioning settings to meet their individual needs.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Dyson also claims that the Omega nourishing collection delivers up to 94 percent stronger hair, compared to using non-conditioning shampoo on straight hair.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Noun
-
Salazarmontano also admitted sentencing enhancements for fleeing the scene of a vehicular manslaughter and inflicting great bodily injury on the victim.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Notably, this enhancement fosters ASML’s EUV economics rather than supplanting them.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthening. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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