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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Recent Examples of strengthens
Buonanotte now strengthens United’s options in the final third and allows Farke to pivot from his five-man defence where necessary.
—
Beren Cross, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Published on Wednesday in Nature and derived from deeper, more time-consuming JWST observations of a dozen LRDs that split their light into its constituent colors, or spectra, a new study strengthens the case that these objects are, in fact, gigantic, growing black holes.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026
From a tourism and business perspective, this project strengthens, not diminishes, Chicago and the entire region.
—Heather Larson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
This alignment strengthens professional decision-making while enhancing personal fulfillment and emotional balance.
—Karen Hinds, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026
Better Together strengthens the overall system by expanding access, attracting top medical talent, and ensuring that essential services remain available where private providers may choose not to operate.
—Nan Rich, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
For example, where local markets are stable enough, such as in Colombia, cash assistance is a highly cost-effective solution that helps communities meet food and other basic needs and strengthens local economies.
—Ciaran Donnelly, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
The Colorescience Barrier Pro Serum Spray hydrates, strengthens the skin barrier, and promotes vitamin D production for a healthy, even-toned complexion year-round.
—Emma Greene, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Beyond flood protection, sponge infrastructure improves water quality and strengthens communities hit hardest by flooding.
—Marina Jurica, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Beren Cross, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Published on Wednesday in Nature and derived from deeper, more time-consuming JWST observations of a dozen LRDs that split their light into its constituent colors, or spectra, a new study strengthens the case that these objects are, in fact, gigantic, growing black holes.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026
From a tourism and business perspective, this project strengthens, not diminishes, Chicago and the entire region.
—Heather Larson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
This alignment strengthens professional decision-making while enhancing personal fulfillment and emotional balance.
—Karen Hinds, Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. 2026
Better Together strengthens the overall system by expanding access, attracting top medical talent, and ensuring that essential services remain available where private providers may choose not to operate.
—Nan Rich, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
For example, where local markets are stable enough, such as in Colombia, cash assistance is a highly cost-effective solution that helps communities meet food and other basic needs and strengthens local economies.
—Ciaran Donnelly, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
The Colorescience Barrier Pro Serum Spray hydrates, strengthens the skin barrier, and promotes vitamin D production for a healthy, even-toned complexion year-round.
—Emma Greene, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Beyond flood protection, sponge infrastructure improves water quality and strengthens communities hit hardest by flooding.
—Marina Jurica, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthens
Verb
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Then the storm moves on, the sun returns, and the surface hardens again, cracked and chalky, as if the place is trying to erase the evidence that water ever touched it.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
1 Jan. 2026
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But her attitude toward them eventually hardens.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
That night, Pam fortifies herself with a few drinks and answers when the phone rings.—
Allegra Goodman,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
-
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 conservative majority regularly fortifies religious rights, but the justices have also been wary of expanding government officials’ exposure to damages in their individual capacities.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Arctic competition intensifies as Russia boosts military presence and China declares itself a ‘near-Arctic state,’ making Greenland crucial for North American defense.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
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Two days later, Mars conjunct Pluto in your fourth house intensifies emotional undercurrents tied to family, home, or old survival patterns.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Texas Education Agency will meet with the Lake Worth community Wednesday as the school district braces for a state takeover.—
Lacey Beasley,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
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In October 2024, at 17, Yamal celebrated scoring against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu by showing off his customised blaugrana braces.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The schedule stiffens over the final four with Green Bay and Jacksonville at home, a Christmas night game at Kansas City and then Week 18 at home against the Los Angeles Chargers.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
30 Nov. 2025
-
The light stiffens and grabs hold of us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The new plan adjusts a person’s payments based on their income, with repayments ranging from 10 to 25 years.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The device itself uses a button array designed for rapid input, with low-latency LEDs for clear visual cues in play and an adaptive difficulty system that adjusts challenges based on performance.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This is because the Sun is lined up with Mercury at the very top of your chart, which enhances your ability to talk to (and impress) parents, bosses and authority figures.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
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While the Pituffik Space Base already offers early warning coverage in the Arctic, broader access to the island enhances this coverage.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The word edgy is often mistakenly applied to comedians whose work just reinforces conventional opinions and prejudices with extra swear words.—
John Roy,
Vulture,
13 Jan. 2026
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This concentration of attractions reinforces Charlotte’s position as the heart of American stock car racing.—
Bill Bootz,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthens. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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