stronghold

noun

ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld How to pronounce stronghold (audio)
Definition of strongholdnext
as in fortress
a structure or place from which one can resist attack the island was the pirates' last stronghold in the West Indies

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stronghold Last year, the EU kicked off a plan to prevent the Black Sea from becoming a Russian stronghold that includes protection for data cables and civilian ships. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026 Combined, that’s an extra 273,000 voters in key Democratic strongholds. — Jeremy Wallace, Houston Chronicle, 16 Oct. 2026 Arizona stands out as the lone swing state among the president’s recent stops, though the airport rally will be in an area of the state known as a Republican stronghold. — Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Arizona stands out as the lone swing state among the president's recent stops, though the airport rally will be in an area of the state known as a Republican stronghold. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stronghold
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stronghold
  1. fortress
  2. bastion
  3. citadel
  4. fortification
  5. castle
  6. fort
Noun
  • According to the brand, these mushrooms were actually found growing in the cellar of the nearby Wilhelmsburg fortress, so the team decided to use them to add some umami flavor to the gin.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The Roman city of Cologne and a legionary fortress in Bonn were also nearby — raising the possibility of a military connection.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of fortress
Noun
  • Much of Latin America’s film industry, looking to Brazil for co-production partnerships and as a bastion of democracy, will share Lula’s supporters’ jubilation and a sense of relief.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
  • East Potomac Park and Hains Point have long served as a bastion of serenity in the nation’s capital.
    — Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of bastion
Noun
  • And yet Trump wants to turn the White House and an outpost on the Potomac into similar citadels, with little regard for why America’s capital city was named for one of its greatest examples of unadorned republican virtue.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Castellón To the north, Castellón unfolds as a mountainous marvel where medieval citadels, golden beaches, and tiny fishing villages create a landscape of contrasts, with the scent of citrus perfuming the air.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of citadel
Noun
  • Meanwhile, North Korea has been adding mines, barbed wire fences, tactical roads, anti-tank walls and other fortifications to what's already one of the world's most heavily armed borders.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Last month, two South Korean soldiers were seriously wounded by what Seoul says were North Korean mines planted as part of those fortifications.
    — Anna Coren, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of fortification
Noun
  • The Knight’s Tale children’s department will offer a playful interpretation of the British home, inspired by medieval castles and courts.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Jones examines the role America has played in the broader history of castles, from early fortifications to Civil War-era forts.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of castle
Noun
  • Black public figures mingle with slave forts and the most vaunted creations of high art.
    — Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • In Stone Town, palaces, forts, and winding streets speak to centuries of trade across the Indian Ocean.
    — Cherri Briggs, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of fort

Browse Nearby Words

strong drinks
stronghold
strongholds
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Cite this Entry

“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stronghold. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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