Synonyms of fortifying

fortifying

verb

present participle of fortify

1

as in bracing

to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally

Kelly fortified herself for the basketball tournament with a series of confidence-boosting exercises

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bracing
• strengthening
• readying
• poising
• steeling
• reinforcing
• bolstering
• nerving
• arming
• forearming
• enforcing
• buttressing
• sustaining
• psyching (up)
• comforting
• inuring
• hardening
• toughening
• encouraging
• supporting
• boosting
• stirring
• rousing
• rallying
• inspiring
• seasoning
• emboldening
• propping (up)
• cheering (up)
• buoying (up)
• heartening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shaking
• discouraging
• demoralizing
• daunting
• undermining
• disheartening
• unnerving
• softening
• weakening
• sapping
• undercutting
• tiring
• dispiriting
• enervating
• debilitating
• psyching (out)
• prostrating
• enfeebling

2

as in strengthening

to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force

he downed another granola bar to fortify himself for the rest of the bike ride

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strengthening
• hardening
• toughening
• beefing (up)
• energizing
• tempering
• vitalizing
• invigorating
• annealing
• toning (up)
• firming (up)
• restrengthening

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weakening
• crippling
• damaging
• impairing
• hurting
• debilitating
• injuring
• harming
• paralyzing
• undermining
• incapacitating
• enervating
• enfeebling
• undercutting
• breaking down
• wearing out
• sapping

3

as in hardening

to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure

bought lots of warm clothing to fortify ourselves against the cold

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strengthening
• hardening
• adjusting
• inuring
• toughening
• bolstering
• steeling
• reinforcing
• adapting
• seasoning
• bracing
• indurating
• acclimating
• vitalizing
• enforcing
• invigorating
• buttressing
• tempering
• immunizing
• acclimatizing
• boosting
• annealing
• supporting
• conditioning
• habituating
• accustoming
• training
• naturalizing
• propping (up)
• breaking in
• limbering (up)
• forearming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• softening
• weakening
• exhausting
• sapping
• enervating
• crippling
• debilitating
• incapacitating
• sensitizing
• emasculating
• enfeebling
• hamstringing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fortifying

Supportive leadership includes recognizing the power of place and fortifying it with the tools, trust, and care needed for excellence to grow and thrive. —Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

It is primarily tasked with repairing and fortifying the city’s more than 210,000 streetlamps — a frequent target of copper wire thieves — and maintaining its network of electrical vehicle charging stations. —Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

The five-day trade fair drew Black businesspersons from dozens of states, fortifying Jackson’s assertion that economic development is the way to Black power. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026

More picks offer more chances at fortifying their roster, or more trade ammunition to move up for a quarterback in a strong draft class next spring. —Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026

Microsoft is aggressively fortifying its weak spots. —Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 2 June 2026

Hazard mitigation efforts can include adding storm shutters; fortifying a roof to protect against hail, wind or wildfires; and retrofitting a home to better withstand earthquakes, for example, experts said. —Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 2 June 2026

The needling didn’t prevent Smith from aggressively fortifying the roster with in-season trades. —Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 21 May 2026

Butka’s arrival continues a growing trend this offseason at Boise State, which is fortifying its inside game with taller, stronger bodies. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 29 Apr. 2026