Synonyms of strengthens

strengthens

verb

present tense third-person singular of strengthen

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

• hardens
• fortifies
• toughens
• energizes
• tempers
• beefs (up)
• invigorates
• vitalizes
• firms (up)
• anneals
• tones (up)
• restrengthens

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weakens
• hurts
• impairs
• paralyzes
• injures
• cripples
• harms
• damages
• debilitates
• undermines
• enfeebles
• enervates
• breaks down
• incapacitates
• undercuts
• wears out
• saps

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

• fortifies
• hardens
• adjusts
• reinforces
• bolsters
• toughens
• inures
• adapts
• boosts
• steels
• supports
• braces
• seasons
• invigorates
• vitalizes
• indurates
• enforces
• immunizes
• tempers
• acclimatizes
• anneals
• acclimates
• accustoms
• buttresses
• conditions
• breaks in
• trains
• habituates
• forearms
• naturalizes
• props (up)
• limbers (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• softens
• weakens
• saps
• exhausts
• cripples
• enfeebles
• sensitizes
• incapacitates
• emasculates
• enervates
• debilitates
• hamstrings

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

• intensifies
• enhances
• deepens
• heightens
• consolidates
• reinforces
• broadens
• boosts
• sharpens
• amplifies
• accentuates
• expands
• redoubles
• magnifies
• emphasizes
• lengthens
• augments
• extends
• steps up
• accelerates
• maximizes
• amps (up)
• enforces
• enlarges
• beefs (up)
• hastens
• quickens
• enlivens
• stresses
• exacerbates
• points (up)
• supplements
• aggravates
• restrengthens
• jazzes (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reduces
• decreases
• weakens
• diminishes
• moderates
• lessens
• tones (down)
• abates
• subdues
• wanes
• recedes
• subsides
• alleviates
• tapers (off)
• lightens
• eases
• lets up (on)
• dwindles

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

• fortifies
• braces
• nerves
• readies
• poises
• reinforces
• forearms
• bolsters
• steels
• arms
• enforces
• toughens
• sustains
• inures
• psyches (up)
• hardens
• encourages
• emboldens
• inspires
• heartens
• boosts
• buttresses
• supports
• stirs
• comforts
• rouses
• seasons
• buoys (up)
• cheers (up)
• props (up)
• rallies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shakes
• discourages
• undermines
• demoralizes
• weakens
• disheartens
• unnerves
• daunts
• softens
• undercuts
• saps
• debilitates
• enfeebles
• dispirits
• enervates
• tires
• psychs (out)
• prostrates

5

as in stiffens

to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe

a bill was introduced to strengthen punishments for hate crimes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stiffens
• toughens
• hardens
• harshens

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• eases
• lessens
• softens
• moderates
• ameliorates

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of strengthens

If any of the storms intensify and rotation strengthens, a warning may need to be issued. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026

This recognition further strengthens the ongoing collaboration between the Saudi Fashion Commission and Istituto Marangoni, established through a memorandum of understanding signed in 2024. — Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

The larger spread also strengthens hospitals’ incentive to choose costlier drugs and move treatment into 340B billing sites. — Casey B. Mulligan, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026

If geomagnetic activity strengthens to G2, the auroral oval could expand farther south, potentially allowing states including Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wyoming to witness the display. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 8 Oct. 2026

Initially, the researchers would reward the system based on gain, which measures how much an amplifier strengthens an incoming signal in decibels. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026

This law strengthens our ability to hold these criminals accountable and protect people from being exploited. — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

The question is whether an exclusive relationship strengthens the business without restricting its ability to grow beyond it. — Sanjay Ghare, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

The brand’s core technology, NIA 114, strengthens the skin barrier and boosts the performance of other active ingredients. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026