strongholds

Definition of strongholdsnext
plural of stronghold

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of strongholds Democratic voters in the party’s remaining strongholds in Broward and Palm Beach counties may also have to get used to something unfamiliar — being represented in Congress by a Republican. Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2026 This summer, both Boich and Dorfman talk of leveraging the FIFA World Cup, with plans for high-profile events with top soccer players from padel strongholds such as Spain, Argentina, and Italy. Robin Swithinbank, Robb Report, 9 May 2026 Just under two years after winning a landslide national election, Starmer saw voters punish his Labour government, dealing it a blow in some of its traditional strongholds in former industrial regions in central and northern England. Andrew MacAskill, USA Today, 8 May 2026 The picture will change throughout Friday as results come in from the majority of local councils, including Labour strongholds like London. ABC News, 8 May 2026 The big winner is expected to be hard-right party Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, which is aiming for working-class, former Labor strongholds in England’s north and on London’s outer edges with its anti-establishment, anti-immigration message. Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026 The map would create more GOP-friendly districts not only by condensing Democratic voters but also by making some Republican strongholds less sturdy in a year when Republicans are expected to take a hit on the November ballot. Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026 Additionally, independent candidates aligned with the Democratic Party raised more than Republican Senate incumbents in the deep red strongholds of Montana and Nebraska last quarter. Stephen Fowler, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026 The district has been chopped up, dropping local Republican strongholds in Roseville and Lincoln and picking up staunchly blue-leaning areas, most notably by expanding into Sacramento. Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strongholds
Noun
  • The eccentric design of Olana was inspired by fortresses in Persia (where, curiously, Church hadn’t travelled), as well as Italian, East Indian, Gothic Revival, and French Second Empire architecture.
    Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • The hilltop structures were originally built as Catholic shrines dedicated to the virgins they're named after, but were turned into military fortresses in the early 1800s—they have since been rehabilitated for tourism.
    Christin Parcerisa Vigueras, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Climb the 900-odd steps (or cop out in a car) for a walk through its eight baroque bastions and some breathtaking views.
    Helen Brown, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The surge in costs reflects a major shift for Chicago, known as one of the last bastions of big-city affordability.
    Bloomberg, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Covering the sarcophagus Yellow daffodils bloom beside wartime fortifications at the Chernobyl plant as workers in ordinary clothes, with badges and special permits, pass through the restricted zone.
    Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The fortifications on the southern and western sides stretch 1,312 feet long, predating the 1st-century legionary camp for which Vindonissa is famous.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 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
  • The Torrent de Pareis gorge, clifftop castles and sea-facing ridgelines reward the climb.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 11 May 2026
  • So is touring the castles of Spain, or seeing the Arctic fjords in Greenland.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 May 2026
Noun
  • In addition to exploring the forts and lighthouses, families can enjoy coastal trails, bird-watching, and stargazing.
    Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 9 May 2026
  • Even populous British colonies like Virginia and Pennsylvania grew blurry on their western frontiers, where indistinct borders were protected by a few lonely forts.
    Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Strongholds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strongholds. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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