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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in reviving
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as in increase
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthening
Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
It's forecast to experience steady to rapid strengthening and could become a major hurricane, with winds of 115 mph or more over the weekend.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
These explosive bursts of strengthening are becoming more common as the world warms.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 22 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
Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Beyond transactions, New World Realty remains active in charitable initiatives and local events, strengthening the ties that have defined its legacy for more than three decades.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
What To Know The disturbance has a 50 percent chance of strengthening into a tropical storm within the next seven days.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Taking magnesium at the same time as some other medications (such as antibiotics or bone-strengthening medications called bisphosphonates) can interfere with their absorption.
—Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2025
Hollub said the deal helps Oxy focus on its core oil and gas business, especially in the booming Permian, while strengthening its financial position through debt reduction.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Across the fashion industry, circular strategies are multiplying — global SPAs are strengthening garment collection schemes, while European luxury houses are elevating biodiversity as a strategic pillar.
—Chizuru Muko, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
This movement combines adductor strengthening on one side with stretching on the other.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
There will be additional discussions and more details to be determined, but today's decision showcases the commitment and leadership of our ADs in balancing what is best for strengthening the conference and for their respective programs.
—Payton Titus, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Sustained winds of around 75 mph (120 kph) were recorded with some additional strengthening expected.
—Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
It's forecast to experience steady to rapid strengthening and could become a major hurricane, with winds of 115 mph or more over the weekend.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
These explosive bursts of strengthening are becoming more common as the world warms.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 22 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
Takaichi, a hard-line conservative who’s cited former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as her hero, has called for strengthening Japan’s military, and taking a tougher stance against China and North Korea.
—Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Beyond transactions, New World Realty remains active in charitable initiatives and local events, strengthening the ties that have defined its legacy for more than three decades.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
What To Know The disturbance has a 50 percent chance of strengthening into a tropical storm within the next seven days.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Taking magnesium at the same time as some other medications (such as antibiotics or bone-strengthening medications called bisphosphonates) can interfere with their absorption.
—Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2025
Hollub said the deal helps Oxy focus on its core oil and gas business, especially in the booming Permian, while strengthening its financial position through debt reduction.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Across the fashion industry, circular strategies are multiplying — global SPAs are strengthening garment collection schemes, while European luxury houses are elevating biodiversity as a strategic pillar.
—Chizuru Muko, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
This movement combines adductor strengthening on one side with stretching on the other.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
There will be additional discussions and more details to be determined, but today's decision showcases the commitment and leadership of our ADs in balancing what is best for strengthening the conference and for their respective programs.
—Payton Titus, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthening
Verb
-
Over time, this plaque buildup can lead to hardening and narrowing of the arteries.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Meanwhile, hardening facilities is expensive—and the money could be used for more lucrative ventures.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Once that decision is made, Posey and the rest of the Giants’ brass will shift its attention to fortifying their roster, generally, and their pitching depth, specifically.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While federal officials maintain that only criminals are being targeted, local advocates and community leaders say lawful residents and families with pending cases have also been detained, deepening fears that the crackdown is casting too wide a net and eroding public trust.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Qatar is deepening its presence in Egypt after more than a decade of strained ties.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Not since John Cazale made The Godfather Part II (1974), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), and The Deer Hunter (1978) in sequence has a five-year stretch of acting been quite so bracing.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
-
State and local health departments are now bracing for how the shutdown could affect their work to keep communities safe and healthy – and some worry about disruptions in communications with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal agencies in times of need.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
2 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
-
In 2011, the Wisconsin State Legislature altered the property tax levy formula limits, eliminating the 2% ceiling that local municipalities could draw from taxpayers in places where new construction couldn't justify a larger levy increase.—
Jim Riccioli,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Numbers provided by Cincinnati Public Schools show that the school district had 4,326 homeless students last year, representing a 77% increase from a decade prior, despite total student enrollment increasing by only 538 students over the same period of time.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hassan’s team instead squeezed a photon’s intensity and demonstrated real-time control, fluctuating between intensity and phase-squeezing by adjusting the silica’s position relative to the beams.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Oct. 2025
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The August study argued that adjusting the definition of an EF5 tornado down slightly to 190 mph would result in an EF5 frequency that’s more consistent with decades past.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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These appointments reflect WestEnd’s ambition for the future, the company said, with a specific focus on enhancing the company’s position in the international television market and expanding its presence in North America, with Braverman based in New York City.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
8 Oct. 2025
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This style’s romantic sleeves create a balanced look by enhancing the shoulders.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthening. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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