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
This election could not have changed that majority, but the outcome could have determined whether UTLA would strengthen its hand or whether other constituencies — such as charters — would gain a measure of power at the union’s expense.
—
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Sweeney’s task will be to maintain or strengthen the Magic’s defense while improving an offense that often struggled in the half court.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Through this lens, setbacks become points of reflection, offering insight that strengthens future judgment.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Employees who believe that AI strengthens their careers report higher engagement, loyalty, and discretionary effort than those who believe AI weakens their prospects.
—Matt Rosenbaum, Fortune, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Sweeney’s task will be to maintain or strengthen the Magic’s defense while improving an offense that often struggled in the half court.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Through this lens, setbacks become points of reflection, offering insight that strengthens future judgment.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Employees who believe that AI strengthens their careers report higher engagement, loyalty, and discretionary effort than those who believe AI weakens their prospects.
—Matt Rosenbaum, Fortune, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
-
What began as sanction workarounds is hardening into permanent market architecture.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Entergy New Orleans, the city’s main electric utility, has an accelerated grid-hardening plan that aims to replace existing utility poles with more fortified poles to withstand higher winds and selectively move some lines underground in high-risk areas.—
Fangxing Fran Li,
The Conversation,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Cereals are usually fortified with B vitamins, folic acid, and iron.—
Jennifer Lefton,
Verywell Health,
1 June 2026
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Unknown to the Americans, and unspotted by their air reconnaissance, Peleliu is full of deep underground cave networks, which the Japanese had fortified and stocked with food, water and ammunition.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
The idea is to enhance security at nonprofits that could be targeted for their ideology or mission.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
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In advertising, innovations in AI have led to the capability to analyze huge volumes of data, to tailor ads to individual consumer preferences and behaviors, and to enhance personalization in advertising.—
Melissa A. Wheeler,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
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England are braced for potential disruption to their two warm-up friendlies in Florida, against New Zealand in Tampa on Saturday, and Costa Rica in Orlando on June 10.—
Dan Kilpatrick,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
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Although the novel’s center does not quite hold, O’Farrell’s emotional intelligence — the heart and heat of her characters — braces this sometimes unwieldy chronicle of a nation that has been subject to cumbrous historic agonies.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Spritzing the end of the thread with hairspray will stiffen it just enough to be able to be threaded more easily, but keeps enough flexibility to be used.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
27 May 2026
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One was to basically put on the record and call out everything that this FCC has done to try to bring Disney to heel but also to encourage it and other broadcasters to stiffen their spine.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Verb
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The supply and demand parameters have to be adjusted to a conscious mean.—
Mercury News Editorial Board,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
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Immediately, some Southern states adjusted their primaries to give them time to change voting districts.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 2026
Verb
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As climate pressures intensify, biodiversity shrinks and consumers demand more transparency, the push to preserve older grain varieties and livestock breeds is reshaping what shows up in grocery aisles and on restaurant menus.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
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Climate models predict a continued, long-term decline of snowpack as the effects of climate change intensify.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The weekend also presents an ideal opportunity to bolster the defensive front.—
Jeff Sentell,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
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Europe bolsters military alliances over Russia fears Mounting concern in Europe over Russia’s military ambitions — and a lack of confidence in US support — is driving new defense alliances across the continent.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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