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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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
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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
The latest, published in Nature today, strengthens the case that LAP1-B is an early cosmic puzzle piece packed with material freshly manufactured by dying Population III stars.
—
Lee Billings, Scientific American, 13 May 2026
Pacific Ocean projections for 2026 An array of model images, including these from the North American multi-modal ensemble model, project water in the Pacific Ocean will be much warmer than normal by summer, as an El Niño strengthens.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 12 May 2026
The law also strengthens protections for homeowners who were incorrectly charged property taxes because of government errors.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 11 May 2026
Those cells are highly responsive to mechanical stress—the reason weight-bearing exercise strengthens the skeleton—and the device is designed to imitate that signal through subtle vibration.
—Alice Gregory, Vogue, 11 May 2026
The SeaRAM selection also strengthens defense cooperation between the United States, Japan, and Australia as regional security concerns continue to intensify.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 May 2026
The ruling eliminates Democratic hopes for four additional House seats and strengthens Republican gerrymandering advantages heading into this year’s midterm elections.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
The best chance to catch the northern lights will likely come late on Friday, May 8, into the early hours of Saturday, May 9, as geomagnetic activity strengthens under the influence of a fast-moving high-speed solar wind stream.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
This move strengthens our wellness design leadership and reflects our focus on expanding capabilities, not just geography.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
Lee Billings, Scientific American, 13 May 2026
Pacific Ocean projections for 2026 An array of model images, including these from the North American multi-modal ensemble model, project water in the Pacific Ocean will be much warmer than normal by summer, as an El Niño strengthens.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 12 May 2026
The law also strengthens protections for homeowners who were incorrectly charged property taxes because of government errors.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 11 May 2026
Those cells are highly responsive to mechanical stress—the reason weight-bearing exercise strengthens the skeleton—and the device is designed to imitate that signal through subtle vibration.
—Alice Gregory, Vogue, 11 May 2026
The SeaRAM selection also strengthens defense cooperation between the United States, Japan, and Australia as regional security concerns continue to intensify.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 May 2026
The ruling eliminates Democratic hopes for four additional House seats and strengthens Republican gerrymandering advantages heading into this year’s midterm elections.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
The best chance to catch the northern lights will likely come late on Friday, May 8, into the early hours of Saturday, May 9, as geomagnetic activity strengthens under the influence of a fast-moving high-speed solar wind stream.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
This move strengthens our wellness design leadership and reflects our focus on expanding capabilities, not just geography.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthens
Verb
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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
-
Tissue culture is a cloning process where, for orchids, shoot tips and axillary or side buds are sterilized and placed on agar — a jelly-like material that hardens into a firm gel — that contains plant nutrients and hormones.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
14 May 2026
Verb
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What fortifies it the most is an appearance from Williams’ grandfather midway through the song.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2026
-
Excited yet anxious over the prospect of reconnecting with the man that got away, the pair fortifies themselves with cocktails and bubbly during a boozy dinner.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ocean spot freight rates increased by double digits this week as ocean carriers tack on more emergency fuel surcharges and begin setting up peak season surcharges, even as China intensifies regulatory scrutiny over carriers’ freight rate transparency and filing practices.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
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The 1922 agreement that divided the water among the states doled out more than was actually flowing, and since 2000, the river has shrunk dramatically as climate change intensifies dry conditions in the Rocky Mountains.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Local officials were assessing the extent of the damage and impact — as the region braces for more possible tornadoes in the days ahead.—
Ben Noll,
Washington Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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While Silicon Valley braces for overnight layoffs, is China faring any better?—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Golden State’s schedule stiffens with an upcoming trip to New York and Indiana.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
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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
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Those receptors constantly monitor changes in blood flow and send signals to the brain, which then adjusts heart rate and blood vessel tension.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
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California adjusts lottery prizes based on the number of tickets sold and number of winners.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
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This process enhances nutrient absorption and eases the strain on your digestive system.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
18 May 2026
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The lower operating pressure reduces mechanical stress and minimizes the risk of containment failure, which enhances the safety profile of the system compared to conventional light-water reactors.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 May 2026
Verb
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The Fed under pressure The latest inflation reading reinforces expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged for a while — doing little to ease consumers' current affordability challenges.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
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This shift also reinforces pricing power at the top end of luxury.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthens. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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