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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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 strengthens
Barbell Deadlift Deadlifting strengthens the glutes along with the entire posterior chain (the interconnected muscles that run up the backside of your body).
—
Jenessa Connor, Health, 10 June 2026
The geopolitical backdrop strengthens the operator’s case.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 8 June 2026
Rest becomes the thing that strengthens your next brave move.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
Jenny’s murder strengthens her resolve.
—ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
Discretion exercised with preparation, consistency and principle strengthens public confidence in the courts.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Daily News, 3 June 2026
This facility strengthens Detroit's aviation infrastructure while creating new opportunities for business, investment and connectivity.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Landing the greatest shooter in NBA history gives Li-Ning a marquee athlete and further strengthens China's growing presence in the league.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
In this screen-free environment, the two narrators meet and form a friendship that strengthens them both.
—Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
Jenessa Connor, Health, 10 June 2026
The geopolitical backdrop strengthens the operator’s case.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 8 June 2026
Rest becomes the thing that strengthens your next brave move.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026
Jenny’s murder strengthens her resolve.
—ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
Discretion exercised with preparation, consistency and principle strengthens public confidence in the courts.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Daily News, 3 June 2026
This facility strengthens Detroit's aviation infrastructure while creating new opportunities for business, investment and connectivity.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Landing the greatest shooter in NBA history gives Li-Ning a marquee athlete and further strengthens China's growing presence in the league.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
In this screen-free environment, the two narrators meet and form a friendship that strengthens them both.
—Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthens
Verb
-
Leaders start trusting that past wins will carry them forward, and the trust hardens into something that no longer gets examined.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
The process relies on urushi, a natural lacquer derived from tree sap that hardens over time into a durable, food-safe coating.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The Olive and June product can also be applied daily to bare nails as an intensive strengthening treatment that not only fortifies your claws, but also repairs ridges, discoloration, and pesky peeling along the way.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
3 June 2026
-
The Plumb Club is involved in this effort because presenting third-party assurances of an item’s sourcing and production history builds customer trust, drives sales and thus fortifies the gem, jewelry and watch industries.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The company has also deepened ties with major technology players including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, even as competition intensifies across the AI industry.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 June 2026
-
The process tenderizes the ingredient and intensifies its natural flavor.—
Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
ComEd is responding to over 5,000 active outages as the Chicago area braces for multiple rounds of severe storms on Thursday.—
Darius Johnson,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
-
Kochen’s chain of about 30 companies — which operated under the CLADD Group LLC in North Miami — sold durable medical equipment such as knee, shoulder and wrist braces to patients who were referred by doctors affiliated with Herek’s telemedicine business, VirtualNet.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Golden State’s schedule stiffens with an upcoming trip to New York and Indiana.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
-
The rings arise because the metal softens as the can compresses, then stiffens, then compresses and stiffens again, repeating the pattern until the compression is complete—akin to something called homoclinic snaking.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Caffeine-free pre-workouts are another option for keeping training intensity up while the body adjusts.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
California adjusts lottery prizes based on the number of tickets sold and number of winners.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
If the tile goes mid-way up the wall, the designer recommends choosing a paint color that enhances the tile’s color, either a similar hue or a complementary tone.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 June 2026
-
This enhances France’s capability to maintain its operational superiority in contested and high-intensity airspaces.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Educators themselves appear particularly drawn to how the platform reinforces strong instructional practices rather than bypassing them.—
Wyles Daniel,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 June 2026
-
This perspective reinforces a fundamental truth that early detection remains our most practical tool to improve survival rates, simplify treatment and protect a patient’s quality of life.—
Eric Wargotz,
Baltimore Sun,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthens. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
