strengthening 1 of 3

strengthening

2 of 3

noun

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
5
as in stiffening
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe a bill was introduced to strengthen punishments for hate crimes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strengthening
Noun
Ouchi recommends constant physical strengthening, specifically weight lifting. Adaira Landry, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 After adding my hair growth favorites to your cart, check out more of the brand's strengthening and growth-boosting formulas. Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 26 May 2026 But those key areas do need strengthening, especially with Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers likely to be strong next season, along with whoever else drops out of the Premier League. Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 3 May 2026 The initiative will also support developing countries through outreach such as training, advisory services and institutional strengthening. Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 28 Apr. 2026 Adelphi offers policy proposals across the IP spectrum that are meant to counterbalance the international strengthening of IP laws, regulations, and enforcement. Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026 In the immediate term, the strengthening of the Haiti National Police is underway. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026 The benefits include more calories burned, greater muscle strengthening, and improved endurance. Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026 Indeed, both companies aim to continue the exploration of new synergies that contribute to the growth and strengthening of their editorial and audiovisual strategies. Ed Meza, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
On Wednesday, Raman said her administration would focus on lowering housing costs, protecting renters, reducing homelessness, improving city services, strengthening emergency response systems, supporting small businesses and fighting to retain jobs in the entertainment industry. Teresa Liu, Daily News, 11 June 2026 The Putah Fire in Yolo County reached 45% containment Wednesday afternoon as firefighters reported no significant new growth and continued strengthening containment lines as red flag conditions moved in, Cal Fire said in an update Wednesday afternoon. Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026 The clothing felt tied to authorship, personal taste and cultural fluency, strengthening the broader impression Imah left throughout the night. Partner Content, Variety, 10 June 2026 Xi’s reference to strengthening military exchanges with North Korea may signal a significant shift from its previous support of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, according to Lim. Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 9 June 2026 These important agreements are a springboard to sustaining and strengthening the University’s commitment to educating tomorrow’s health and healthcare workforce, discovering groundbreaking cures and improving the health of all Minnesotans. Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 9 June 2026 That means investing in mobile crisis teams, strengthening partnerships with law enforcement, expanding psychiatric bed capacity and sustaining access to outpatient and community-based services. Cathryn Nacario, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026 This unique capability supports readiness while strengthening the industrial base and bringing certainty to modernization. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 June 2026 Bell unspooled an agenda centered on improving graduation rates and job placement, strengthening athletics, enhancing Greek life and the broader student experience, recruiting top faculty and expanding UF’s academic medical enterprise. Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthening
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
  • The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026
  • When models frequently access fragmented systems, latency increases and user experience suffers.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Beyond hardening technical defenses, companies operating in the AI age need to examine a wide range of practices, say industry experts, updating the way software patches are deployed and rebuilding the human layer of security.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 9 June 2026
  • This will keep gloves from hardening and extend their life.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • It is primarily tasked with repairing and fortifying the city’s more than 210,000 streetlamps — a frequent target of copper wire thieves — and maintaining its network of electrical vehicle charging stations.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
  • The five-day trade fair drew Black businesspersons from dozens of states, fortifying Jackson’s assertion that economic development is the way to Black power.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • Even still, Xi’s visit now, and his talk of deepening ties across trade, science and technology, is a sign that Beijing wants to reassert its position as Pyongyang’s primary partner.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
  • Robots learn virtually LG is also deepening its push into robotics.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • The West Coast is also bracing for rising temperatures, with highs climbing to 10 to 25 degrees above normal this weekend.
    Christine Rapp, NBC news, 13 June 2026
  • Women are bracing for hot flashes while the real experience is dominated by exhaustion, mood changes and cognitive symptoms, the kinds of complaints that get attributed to stress, parenting, work or aging in general.
    Allison Palmer Updated June 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • Volkswagen’s premium Audi brand has lost much of its luster in recent years, dragged down by trade tariffs, stiffening competition and a patchy electric-vehicle roster.
    William Wilkes, Bloomberg, 8 June 2026
  • Chronic inflammation damages blood vessels, stiffening them and increasing resistance.
    Jennifer Berger, Verywell Health, 1 June 2026
Adjective
  • Novelty refers to experiences that feel new, fresh, unfamiliar or psychologically stimulating.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
  • But don't be discouraged, as today's disruptions could end up leading you toward something fresh, inspiring and intellectually stimulating.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Strengthening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthening. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.

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