1
as in to harden
to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force
lifting weights every day will eventually strengthen your muscles the army makes new recruits run for miles in order to strengthen them
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fortify
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
required weeks of physical therapy to strengthen his arm enough to pitch for the team again
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3
as in to enhance
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
encouraged the boarding school students to strengthen their ties with the community by doing public service
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4
as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
strengthened herself for the moment she'd have to tell her friend that she had lost the borrowed necklace
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthen
Losing 3-0 to Palace at Wembley last season was a major failure, yet has only strengthened their desire to right the wrongs this time.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Activity may strengthen tonight, Friday, May 1, but is expected to gradually weaken, so your best shot is under the darkest skies overnight.
—PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
The rules also strengthen oversight and enforcement on driverless vehicles.
—Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
The company remains committed to investing in and strengthening the cybersecurity infrastructure that its customers and their families depend on.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Activity may strengthen tonight, Friday, May 1, but is expected to gradually weaken, so your best shot is under the darkest skies overnight.
—PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
The rules also strengthen oversight and enforcement on driverless vehicles.
—Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
The company remains committed to investing in and strengthening the cybersecurity infrastructure that its customers and their families depend on.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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One that shows the intense rightward swing that has only hardened as the lines between hip-hop and the streaming universe have blurred.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
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The airstrike on the Haret Hreik neighborhood targeted the leader of the Radwan forces, Hezbollah’s elite and battle-hardened fighting unit, Israeli authorities said.—
Mohamad El Chamaa,
Washington Post,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Though the depth is fortified on offense, the defense hampered the Bears most last season.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
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What fortifies it the most is an appearance from Williams’ grandfather midway through the song.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The new thermal insulation material improves upon aerogel by enhancing its mechanical properties while maintaining moisture permeability and quick-drying performance.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
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Saudi Aramco’s new supercomputer, meant to accelerate the search for new oil and gas deposits and enhance output from existing fields, costs $373 million.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Overcast skies hovered over Atlanta during the midafternoon as the metro area braced for severe weather.—
Vanessa McCray,
AJC.com,
6 May 2026
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The disappointment comes after the hotel industry was bracing for a strong summer in 2026.—
Rafael Nam,
NPR,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The rings arise because the metal softens as the can compresses, then stiffens, then compresses and stiffens again, repeating the pattern until the compression is complete—akin to something called homoclinic snaking.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
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Will these Knicks stick to the process when the competition stiffens in the second round?—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Because women statistically have longer life expectancies, insurers anticipate making payments over a longer period for female annuitants and adjust the monthly amount downward accordingly.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
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Markets have adjusted their expectations as well.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The shooting has also intensified calls by conservatives to fully fund DHS through a single bill — blaming Democrats for the shutdown and arguing that splitting apart ICE and Border Patrol funding will only give the minority party leverage.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
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Instead, the slight thaw suggests a more modest agenda that the countries should now pursue, one that acknowledges that tensions between them over fundamental issues — trade, technology, global status — are more likely to intensify than abate.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Those years of high draft picks have led to a roster with impressive high-end talent in its young core, and general manager Pat Verbeek added a slate of veteran signees to bolster it.—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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Orange juice – rich in vitamin C, potassium, folate and sometimes vitamin D – has solid nutritional benefits that can bolster your immune system and your skin health.—
Gavin Escott,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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