as in fortresses
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the island was the pirates' last stronghold in the West Indies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 strongholds
Davids picked up more rural constituents in Miami, Franklin, and Anderson counties during the last round of partisan redistricting in 2022, when state lawmakers drew Lawrence and northern Wyandotte County — both progressive strongholds — out of the 3rd Congressional District.
—
Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 23 Feb. 2026
Officials in one of the city’s Republican strongholds criticized the move.
—Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
Zillow recently ranked the exclusive community as the most expensive in the country, edging past traditional luxury strongholds like Beverly Hills.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2026
Lander would be the overwhelming favorite to win that seat, which likely would be reworked as well to include more of his strongholds in Brooklyn and less of Manhattan.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
Omar Ali Abdi, Somalia’s state minister for defense, told the Associated Press that locations in Lower Shabelle, including Jilib Marka, Gendershe and Dhanaane, which had long served as Shabab strongholds, are now in military hands.
—Omar Faruk, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The communities that arose there became, to a near-comical degree, temporary cultural strongholds, crammed with artists, musicians, medics, and academics.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
These losses have been particularly notable in historically Black strongholds like Bedford-Stuyvesant and Harlem.
—Naomi Jackson, Curbed, 11 Feb. 2026
Marquis said some of the most stunning protest growth has happened in areas such as Surprise, Glendale, Anthem and Peoria, traditional conservative strongholds.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 23 Feb. 2026
Officials in one of the city’s Republican strongholds criticized the move.
—Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
Zillow recently ranked the exclusive community as the most expensive in the country, edging past traditional luxury strongholds like Beverly Hills.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2026
Lander would be the overwhelming favorite to win that seat, which likely would be reworked as well to include more of his strongholds in Brooklyn and less of Manhattan.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
Omar Ali Abdi, Somalia’s state minister for defense, told the Associated Press that locations in Lower Shabelle, including Jilib Marka, Gendershe and Dhanaane, which had long served as Shabab strongholds, are now in military hands.
—Omar Faruk, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The communities that arose there became, to a near-comical degree, temporary cultural strongholds, crammed with artists, musicians, medics, and academics.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
These losses have been particularly notable in historically Black strongholds like Bedford-Stuyvesant and Harlem.
—Naomi Jackson, Curbed, 11 Feb. 2026
Marquis said some of the most stunning protest growth has happened in areas such as Surprise, Glendale, Anthem and Peoria, traditional conservative strongholds.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strongholds
Noun
-
France believed its Maginot Line of fortresses was impregnable – until the Germans simply went around it.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, history buffs will love exploring the island’s capital via colorful Spanish-colonial architecture and imposing, ancient fortresses like La Fortaleza and El Morro.—
Brittany Chang,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
City types of a certain age have been dismayed at the loss of one of the Square Mile’s bastions.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Even among these bastions of heritage, however, few private domains can match the singular grandeur of Hillandale.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the end, the fortifications that mattered most were those that strengthened Rome against the invaders that could not be seen.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Some are outfitted with dozens of pounds of explosives to self-destruct near fortifications or bridges.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The story is a bit murkier than Manichaean talk of stormers and citadels.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Intelsat’s leadership rapidly green-lighted the campaign to set up internet citadels.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Schedule a tour of the distillery in the morning, then take the short drive to Dunluce Castle, one of the most picturesque castles in the country.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Moreover, Austria offers, as mentioned, an exceptional variety of locations — from breathtaking Alpine landscapes to historic cities, stunning architecture both historical and contemporary, as well as castles and palaces.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Royal African Company had acquired forts, ships, and the necessary infrastructure to traffic more than a hundred thousand people from one continent to another.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Beyond its white-, black- or golden-sand beaches and historic forts, the island has the opportunity to carve out a new role as a model for responsible travel, one where visitors don’t just take from the island but give back to it.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strongholds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strongholds. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
