1
as in hardens
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 fortifies
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 intensifies
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 braces
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthens
As Harvard Business Review notes, leaders who regularly reflect on their experiences gain self-awareness, which strengthens decision-making and leadership effectiveness.
—
Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Chelsea’s more identifiable structure strengthens them in possession and in defensive transition, which was Mauricio Pochettino’s big weakness as Maresca’s 2023-24 predecessor.
—Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
Leaders in Washington should also pursue a proactive and affirmative agenda that builds our domestic fabrication and packaging capacity, strengthens our research and design ecosystem, and creates new demand for Made-in-America chips at home and overseas.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
This not only strengthens community ties but can also drive conversions.
—Tony Pec, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Stocks are slightly higher to start the final full trading week of the year as the dollar strengthens and oil and gold pull back.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024
Their vertical configuration, combined with the ability to rapidly deploy various types of missiles—cruise, antiair, and antiship—strengthens a warship's capacity to address multiple threats while maximizing onboard space.
—Micah McCartney, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
While not part of Campbell’s order, the NCAA’s settlement to resolve the House, Carter and Hubbard antitrust litigations strengthens Campbell’s reasoning.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Dec. 2024
These support networks can offer a new set of coping strategies, tools for conflict resolution and positive reinforcement that strengthens the relationship, enhancing overall connection and satisfaction.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Chelsea’s more identifiable structure strengthens them in possession and in defensive transition, which was Mauricio Pochettino’s big weakness as Maresca’s 2023-24 predecessor.
—Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
Leaders in Washington should also pursue a proactive and affirmative agenda that builds our domestic fabrication and packaging capacity, strengthens our research and design ecosystem, and creates new demand for Made-in-America chips at home and overseas.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
This not only strengthens community ties but can also drive conversions.
—Tony Pec, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Stocks are slightly higher to start the final full trading week of the year as the dollar strengthens and oil and gold pull back.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024
Their vertical configuration, combined with the ability to rapidly deploy various types of missiles—cruise, antiair, and antiship—strengthens a warship's capacity to address multiple threats while maximizing onboard space.
—Micah McCartney, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
While not part of Campbell’s order, the NCAA’s settlement to resolve the House, Carter and Hubbard antitrust litigations strengthens Campbell’s reasoning.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Dec. 2024
These support networks can offer a new set of coping strategies, tools for conflict resolution and positive reinforcement that strengthens the relationship, enhancing overall connection and satisfaction.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthens
Verb
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Uniting Prevention and Detection Traditional cybersecurity strategies often treat prevention and detection as separate undertakings—one team hardens systems to repel threats, while another prepares to identify and respond to breaches that slip through the cracks.—
Tony Bradley,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025
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Another approach involves injecting the material directly into the deficit, in the form of a gel that subsequently hardens into a solid.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As climate change intensifies large-scale wildfires in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the invisible work of scientists becomes even more critical to the protection of public lands, Townsend says.—
Dua Anjum,
Rolling Stone,
14 Mar. 2025
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What to Know The latest funding threat comes as the administration intensifies its oversight of academic institutions.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In sports mode, the TV automatically adjusts to optimize content.—
Christopher Murray,
Fox News,
21 Mar. 2025
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The shoe also includes a Blucher throat that adjusts with the foot for flexibility.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The old-fashioned furnishings provide storage and display space that enhances the bathroom's utility.—
Emily Williams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Mar. 2025
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The combination of the suite’s ECM capabilities with the launcher’s decoy system enhances the ship’s defense capabilities against different threats.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As the industry braces for surprises and snubs, some big players are poised to lead the charge, while others hope for last-minute breakthroughs.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
16 Dec. 2024
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This includes search dogs and teams trained to rescue people from collapsed buildings as the island braces for severe damage.—
Stephan Pechdimaldji,
Newsweek,
13 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Covering such varied stories reinforces the importance of empathy and understanding in storytelling.—
Austin American-Statesman,
Austin American-Statesman,
23 Dec. 2024
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This approach ensures that the podcast reinforces the company's core values and mission in a way that resonates with employees.—
Fatima Zaidi,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Intimacy deepens slowly over time, beginning with more superficial details, then progressing to personal attitudes and eventually leading to deeper emotions and experiences.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
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As the collection progresses, the palette deepens to moss greens and midnight blues, with textures enriches from playful sheerness to substantial leather and Mongolian shearling.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The latest development heightens tensions between Lamont and lawmakers, who have battled over spending controls and growing needs in core public services.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
19 Mar. 2025
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The sun joining Neptune heightens your intuition tenfold.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthens. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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