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
Cooperation frameworks such as the Negev Forum, I2U2, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) have strengthened dialogue and trust.
—
Yossi Shelley, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Though the recognition strengthens Machado’s international profile, Maduro is expected to continue targeting the opposition to consolidate support.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
In her new role, Sheridan will work alongside Adler to strengthen the core business, evolve product strategy, and connect with more customers, the company said.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
Like Cook, Andrews did not receive a waiver to ethics rules that Hogsett strengthened in his first term.
—IndyStar, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Yossi Shelley, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Though the recognition strengthens Machado’s international profile, Maduro is expected to continue targeting the opposition to consolidate support.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
In her new role, Sheridan will work alongside Adler to strengthen the core business, evolve product strategy, and connect with more customers, the company said.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025
Like Cook, Andrews did not receive a waiver to ethics rules that Hogsett strengthened in his first term.
—IndyStar, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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Around the same time, Israeli strikes on Damascus and continued clashes in Sweida hardened the idea, inside parts of the Kurdish movement, that the center could break.—
Hassan Hassan,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
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All of it hardened the Mariners, preparing them for survival.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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These moves have fortified Fashionphile’s position as a global player in luxury resale, and with the acquisition of Luxe Collective, its omnichannel operations will now stretch across North America and Europe.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
14 Oct. 2025
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The wide receiver spot has been fortified more with four-stars and transfers, the result being depth.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Keney innovations include RibbonFET, a new transistor architecture enabling efficient scaling, and PowerVia, a backside power delivery system enhancing energy flow.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
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Cal Fire helicopter pilots will be training over three nights, starting Thursday, in the Sacramento area using night-vision goggles to enhance their ability to fight wildfires in the dark.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Lawmakers are bracing for another Senate vote attempting to end the government shutdown as the impact of funding drying up continues to ripple across the country nearly two weeks into the standoff.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
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American consumers who have come to expect an endless supply of cheap goods that roll off Chinese conveyor belts are bracing for higher prices.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For every mention of the Chicago Bulls’ trek toward toughness, of their hopes to stiffen the chests in the building and ignite a defensive revamp, Okoro has been the footnote.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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McDaniel made the point that the Dolphins’ defensive line and run defense stiffened somewhat after struggling badly on the first drive.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This is still a team that’s going through the process of adjusting to him and his three new assistants, and is coming off of a training cap that was, well, just OK.—
Kevin Kurz,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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The 21st century’s computer generated gore Around the turn of the millennium, filmmakers turned to CGI to augment their fake blood, adjusting the colors or make their splatter physics a little more convincing.—
Mark Hay,
Popular Science,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Padrino also accused Washington of sharply intensifying aerial surveillance of Venezuela, citing a surge in spy flights last month.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
9 Oct. 2025
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And, as the first phase of his Gaza peace plan makes headway, the focus on the prospect of him winning is intensifying.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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HavocAI put together the new round within three months, Lwin said—bolstering the startup’s total funding raised to nearly $100 million since the company launched just last January.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
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There is more with Misa and Dickinson, as the Sharks bolstered their lineup with more veterans up front and on defense.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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