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
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
Steady strengthening was also forecast over the next couple of days, hurricane center forecasters said.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
Fernand will track north-northeastward to the east of Bermuda with modest strengthening expected, limited by some vertical shear.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Amorim’s men finished 24 points adrift of fifth-place Newcastle United last season, with several notable rivals spending the summer strengthening.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
This type of explosive strengthening is happening more frequently as planet-warming pollution tips the scales toward hotter oceans that fuel powerful storms.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
But warmer waters will eventually fuel strengthening.
—South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Merrill even walked with two outs to bring the go-ahead run to the plate but Ryan O’Hearn struck out to end a loss that prevented the Padres from truly strengthening their postseason position.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Parlow’s vision also involves strengthening Chapman’s presence beyond campus, deepening partnerships with local school districts, businesses and cultural institutions and reinforcing Chapman’s role as both a university of choice and a vital community partner.
—Melanie Marshall, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
Collins, Appropriations Committee chairwoman, is tasked with crafting funding measures and is locked in a battleground reelection fight, potentially strengthening the possibility of an extension.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025
To counter China’s rising presence and influence in the Indian Ocean—and given the recent India-China tensions in the Himalayas—India has been strengthening its military infrastructure on the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
—M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
More than half of CMOs said they were focused on strengthening data privacy and protections over the next two years, up from around four in 10 in the previous year’s survey.
—Tom Barkley, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The National Hurricane Center has reduced the system’s development odds to just a 20% chance of strengthening over the next two days and a 20% chance within the next seven days.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Alonso would have liked to have made more signings this summer, with strengthening in midfield an obvious target.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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
Steady strengthening was also forecast over the next couple of days, hurricane center forecasters said.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
Fernand will track north-northeastward to the east of Bermuda with modest strengthening expected, limited by some vertical shear.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Amorim’s men finished 24 points adrift of fifth-place Newcastle United last season, with several notable rivals spending the summer strengthening.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
This type of explosive strengthening is happening more frequently as planet-warming pollution tips the scales toward hotter oceans that fuel powerful storms.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
But warmer waters will eventually fuel strengthening.
—South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
Building and strengthening one-on-one relationships is the way to grow and defend yourself.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
Merrill even walked with two outs to bring the go-ahead run to the plate but Ryan O’Hearn struck out to end a loss that prevented the Padres from truly strengthening their postseason position.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Parlow’s vision also involves strengthening Chapman’s presence beyond campus, deepening partnerships with local school districts, businesses and cultural institutions and reinforcing Chapman’s role as both a university of choice and a vital community partner.
—Melanie Marshall, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
Collins, Appropriations Committee chairwoman, is tasked with crafting funding measures and is locked in a battleground reelection fight, potentially strengthening the possibility of an extension.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025
To counter China’s rising presence and influence in the Indian Ocean—and given the recent India-China tensions in the Himalayas—India has been strengthening its military infrastructure on the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
—M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
More than half of CMOs said they were focused on strengthening data privacy and protections over the next two years, up from around four in 10 in the previous year’s survey.
—Tom Barkley, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The National Hurricane Center has reduced the system’s development odds to just a 20% chance of strengthening over the next two days and a 20% chance within the next seven days.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Alonso would have liked to have made more signings this summer, with strengthening in midfield an obvious target.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthening
Verb
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Wilson’s absolutist rhetoric makes nuanced immigration reform harder by alienating potential allies and hardening opposition.—
Letters to the Editor,
Oc Register,
14 Sep. 2025
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Three key lessons for protecting homes from wildfire emerged, two of them applying to individual homeowners hardening houses against fire, and clearing nearby flammable materials like plants and fences and one requiring communitywide action.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If readings reach dangerous levels, astronauts can construct a makeshift radiation shield inside Orion, fortifying themselves between the spacecraft's heatshield and water storage canisters, both of which are better at absorbing penetrating radiation than other onboard materials.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Just this past offseason Miami put an emphasis on fortifying the trenches, correcting a past wrong, adding players with size and girth on the offensive and defensive line via the NFL Draft.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As well as job displacement, AI risks deepening wealth inequality—concentrating the gains among those who own or are able to leverage its abilities, while throwing the remainder into the same basket of the formerly employable unemployed.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Instead, officials reinforce colonial subordination while deepening the vulnerability of immigrant communities.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Interestingly, while many were bracing for higher prices due to tariffs, prices remain the same as last year.—
Marc Saltzman,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The Windy City has prepared for more than a week for looming National Guard deployments and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, from the governor bracing for a court fight to parade planners postponing.—
Priscilla Alvarez,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Yet that comes as experts say competition among convenience stores is stiffening.—
Natalie Rice,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
-
But most recently it has been hit from several sides, most notably stiffening competition primarily from Amazon, off-pricers and membership clubs as well as Walmart and Target.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The brutal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on a college campus shocked the nation and is forcing it to confront what appears to be an increase in political violence across the country.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Labor Department data released on Thursday showed one of the biggest weekly increases in jobless claims in more than a year.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Nonetheless, with policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance.—
Adeola Adeosun
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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Adaptation shapes responses to match the level of risk, guiding users in the moment, and adjusting trust dynamically.—
Steve Riley,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But while there is a greater focus on creating differentiated, high-value experiences that customers deeply value, technology investments aimed at enhancing customer experience often fail to meet expectations.—
Rajiv Shesh,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Government policies focused on both mitigating carbon emissions and enhancing energy independence are also making headway in some locations.—
Michael Oxman,
The Conversation,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthening. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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