as in fortresses
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the island was the pirates' last stronghold in the West Indies
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Recent Examples of strongholds
While Machar is currently on trial for offenses including treason, fighting has intensified in areas seen as his strongholds, where government troops are trying to disperse the rebels.
—
ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Paxton relied on conservative strongholds in outer suburbs and rural areas to remain competitive.
—Taylor Nichols, Austin American Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
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
In Texas' four largest cities, which are all Democratic strongholds, the mayor is limited to eight years in office.
—Saul Pink, San Antonio Express-News, 20 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
ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Paxton relied on conservative strongholds in outer suburbs and rural areas to remain competitive.
—Taylor Nichols, Austin American Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
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
In Texas' four largest cities, which are all Democratic strongholds, the mayor is limited to eight years in office.
—Saul Pink, San Antonio Express-News, 20 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strongholds
Noun
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Surface tanks are targets; subsurface reservoirs are fortresses.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
France believed its Maginot Line of fortresses was impregnable – until the Germans simply went around it.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the deadly strike was caused by an Iranian weapon that made it through both air defenses and the operations center's fortifications.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
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An excavator was levelling the ground to build more fortifications.—
Elizabeth Flock,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The story is a bit murkier than Manichaean talk of stormers and citadels.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
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Intelsat’s leadership rapidly green-lighted the campaign to set up internet citadels.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Ahead, 10 of the best castles on Airbnb from around the world.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The British monarchy is known for their lavish castles and estates, which often leave the public in awe.—
Elle Meier,
InStyle,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
History buffs can explore forts, museums, and historic homes, while art aficionados discover vibrant street murals, world-class collections, and intimate galleries tucked away in seaside towns.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Strongholds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strongholds. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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