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
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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
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthens
Murphy made a similar assertion in his Wednesday ruling, also claiming that the Supreme Court not immediately lifting the blocks on ending TPS for Haiti and Syria before justices hear those arguments strengthens his ruling.
—
Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2026
Rounds of showers and thunderstorms will move throughout Hawaiiuntil Thursday morning but will pick up intensity on Thursday afternoon as the Kona storm strengthens.
—Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
On Thursday, April 9, as an onshore flow strengthens, cloud cover and slightly lower temperatures will land through the end of the week.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
Cleaning up the training registry strengthens the entire industry.
—Samantha Greenberg, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
Each week offers a playful, sensory project that strengthens family bonds while teaching simple nervous-system calming tools that can be used at home, according to a flier.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Crosslinking strengthens materials by bonding molecular chains together, improving durability and stability under stress.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
This commitment strengthens you, inside and out.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Infrastructure investment further strengthens resilience.
—Assef Shaikh, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2026
Rounds of showers and thunderstorms will move throughout Hawaiiuntil Thursday morning but will pick up intensity on Thursday afternoon as the Kona storm strengthens.
—Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
On Thursday, April 9, as an onshore flow strengthens, cloud cover and slightly lower temperatures will land through the end of the week.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
Cleaning up the training registry strengthens the entire industry.
—Samantha Greenberg, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
Each week offers a playful, sensory project that strengthens family bonds while teaching simple nervous-system calming tools that can be used at home, according to a flier.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Crosslinking strengthens materials by bonding molecular chains together, improving durability and stability under stress.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
This commitment strengthens you, inside and out.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Infrastructure investment further strengthens resilience.
—Assef Shaikh, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthens
Verb
-
The initially soft capsule is further processed in a specialized structure called the ventral pedal gland near the muscular foot of the whelk, which cross-links the capsule proteins and hardens the structure before it is laid.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Gulf’s stance hardens There have been strong signs that the Gulf’s collective patience has been wearing thin.—
Holly Ellyatt,Emma Graham,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Justin Faulk immediately fortifies Detroit’s second defense pair next to Ben Chiarot.—
The Athletic NHL Staff,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Adding keratin back into hair fortifies the strands ultimately yielding stronger, healthier hair.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Venus and Pluto’s clash intensifies a one-sided attraction.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Researchers have long recognized that climate change intensifies heat waves.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While Silicon Valley braces for overnight layoffs, is China faring any better?—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Vietnam’s airlines are suspending some domestic routes as the country braces for jet fuel shortages.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The men’s Run 900 Ultra Black Shorts feature integrated Rheon technology, a reactive polymer that remains soft at rest but stiffens under pressure.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The woman—Rose, apparently—stiffens slightly.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Riders set a target heart-rate zone in the Avinox Ride app, and the motor automatically adjusts its output to keep them there.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 10,
New Atlas,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Things move more regularly, bloating decreases and your stomach generally feels less chaotic once your gut adjusts.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And here is a helpful tip — a teaspoon of honey enhances the flavors splendidly.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
7 Apr. 2026
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The team also highlighted that the technology enhances robotic hands’ capabilities in delicate manipulation tasks and paving the way for further advancements in humanoid dexterous hand development.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And the move further reinforces Charlotte’s longstanding banking bona fides.—
Brian Gordon,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The long experience and tight teamwork of unionized camera crews, art departments, and so forth from production to production both maintains high professional standards and reinforces long-standing professional norms.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthens. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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