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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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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Recent Examples of strengthens
In the end, whether this designation strengthens national unity or deepens cultural divides will depend less on what the law says and more on how the nation chooses to live it out.
—
Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Carry This entails holding weight while walking, which helps to improve posture and stability, strengthens grip, and works the shoulders, upper back, core and hips.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Typically, La Niña (and its counterpart, El Niño) strengthens and reaches its peak in the winter months.
—Alix Martichoux, The Hill, 12 Sep. 2025
For example, doing wall sits engages and builds the muscles that support your knees, while holding a plank position strengthens your core’s ability to brace your lower back.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
This strengthens the case that a massive, hidden planet orbiting inside the disk has been shaping its structure since the system’s youth.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
The bill strengthens protections against antisemitism and all forms of discrimination in K-12 schools by setting clear classroom standards, increasing accountability for local school agencies and establishing teacher and administrator training.
—Daniel Klein, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Monroe, tasked with embodying Cherry’s transformation, gives a quietly affecting performance that blossoms into something radiant as her bond with Hero strengthens.
—Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Tensions in the southern Caribbean are rising as the United States strengthens its military presence near Venezuelan waters, escalating pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.
—Amir Daftari
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Carry This entails holding weight while walking, which helps to improve posture and stability, strengthens grip, and works the shoulders, upper back, core and hips.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Typically, La Niña (and its counterpart, El Niño) strengthens and reaches its peak in the winter months.
—Alix Martichoux, The Hill, 12 Sep. 2025
For example, doing wall sits engages and builds the muscles that support your knees, while holding a plank position strengthens your core’s ability to brace your lower back.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
This strengthens the case that a massive, hidden planet orbiting inside the disk has been shaping its structure since the system’s youth.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
The bill strengthens protections against antisemitism and all forms of discrimination in K-12 schools by setting clear classroom standards, increasing accountability for local school agencies and establishing teacher and administrator training.
—Daniel Klein, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Monroe, tasked with embodying Cherry’s transformation, gives a quietly affecting performance that blossoms into something radiant as her bond with Hero strengthens.
—Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Tensions in the southern Caribbean are rising as the United States strengthens its military presence near Venezuelan waters, escalating pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.
—Amir Daftari
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthens
Verb
-
When a partner continually feels trapped behind excuses or counterattacks, the original frustration then hardens into resentment.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
But as Beijing hardens its ties with Russia, North Korea and other nations unfriendly to the West, the emergence of two camps and the contest between them appears clearer than ever.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Trying to stay ahead of the game, for Dick’s the acquisition of Foot Locker also fortifies relationships with Nike and Adidas, which still dominate global footwear sales, and gives Dick’s negotiating leverage.—
Mark Faithfull,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The future Hall of Famer only fortifies the talented roster, and gives Houston an experienced star who has the championship hardware to prove it.—
Valentina Martinez,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Venus outshines the star by a factor of 120 to 1, and yet their proximity for several mornings intensifies the contrasting yellow-white of the planet and bluish white of the star.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Valuation — Expensive, But Deserved Here is where the discussion intensifies.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As Chicago braces for a similar crackdown, the Los Angeles effort topped 5,000 arrests last week.—
Elliot Spagat,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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As Major League Baseball reportedly braces for its own salary cap, these risks only grow.—
Jesse Silvertown,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Emery adjusts for certain matches.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Regarding the digestive side effects, the doctor said the medications do slow down the GI tract, but it's been shown that the body adjusts to that over time.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Accomplishing this will pave the way for AI agents to hit the mainstream in a safe way that enhances our lives rather than exposes us to risks.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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The material enhances performance The team elucidated the material’s mechanism through a series of experimental analyses, including solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy, electron spin resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The bill conflates ethics with tax relief and reinforces the idea that lawmakers need a sweet treat to behave ethically.—
Andrew Leahey,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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That, too, is a supportive development that reinforces the potential for further upside.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But in my experience, that often just deepens divides.—
Jay Feldstein,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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China’s economic slowdown deepens.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthens. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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