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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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthen
That connection was strengthened when Godbolt suffered a stroke in November.
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Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025
My goal is to strengthen the emotional bond the brand shares with its customers, continuing to uphold a philosophy that celebrates belonging and the values of polo, turning them into the emblem of a sentiment that can also inspire the fashion community.
—Martino Carrera, WWD, 16 Jan. 2025
Cycling helps to strengthen the muscles around the knee, helping to support the joints and reduce pain, while also improving flexibility and range of motion.
—Jennifer Shanker, Flow Space, 16 Jan. 2025
Sterling strengthened on Wednesday after cooler-than-expected inflation prints out of the U.K. and U.S. sparked optimism around the U.K. economy and strengthened market bets on Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year.
—Jenni Reid,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for strengthen 
Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025
My goal is to strengthen the emotional bond the brand shares with its customers, continuing to uphold a philosophy that celebrates belonging and the values of polo, turning them into the emblem of a sentiment that can also inspire the fashion community.
—Martino Carrera, WWD, 16 Jan. 2025
Cycling helps to strengthen the muscles around the knee, helping to support the joints and reduce pain, while also improving flexibility and range of motion.
—Jennifer Shanker, Flow Space, 16 Jan. 2025
Sterling strengthened on Wednesday after cooler-than-expected inflation prints out of the U.K. and U.S. sparked optimism around the U.K. economy and strengthened market bets on Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year.
—Jenni Reid,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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The move recognizes the town’s work to mitigate future fires by clearing trees and hardening homes.Jake Bittle, WIRED, 9 Jan. 2025
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After sitting indoors all winter, your plant needs to be hardened off by gradually acclimating it to the outdoors.Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Biden could have fortified these protections, using the United States’ influence and meeting its responsibilities as a superpower, one of the founders of international humanitarian law, one of the world’s largest arms suppliers, and the UN’s largest contributor.Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
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Get more information on fortifying your home from wildfires here.KABC STAFF, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Naturally, Wiggins’s first priority was to preserve and enhance the spartan cottage’s existing architecture: the façade of rough-hewn local stone, quaint clapboard walls, restored wood floors, and exposed ceiling beams.Laura May Todd, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2025
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Its rugged, waterproof build is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, while add-on lenses enhance versatility for content creators.Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Denver Public Schools is bracing for possible immigration raids on students and directing principals to lock down campuses if federal immigration agents come knocking.Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
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Capitol Hill is now bracing for what could be a contentious battle over emergency spending in light of the devastation the fires have left throughout the Los Angeles region.Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But the Ravens defense stiffened at the right time, sacking Wilson with defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike delivering a crunching sack on a third-down play to force a punt as the third quarter came to an end.Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 12 Jan. 2025
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The schedule stiffens now, starting with Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Saturday.Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When the policy was announced, USCIS estimated that over two-thirds of non-citizens without legal status but were married to U.S. citizens were not eligible to apply to adjust their status previously.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
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He’s cooled a bit now that NHL opponents have identified him as one of the Blue Jackets’ top weapons, and he’s being challenged to adjust.Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Big Ten-SEC rivalry is about to intensify as the external factors dictating both conferences’ strategies change, and the Big Ten perhaps is in a better position to succeed than at any time in the last 50 years.Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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Banks are on a winning streak, one that’s poised to intensify as President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office.Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Though the video revealed no further details, fans immediately began speculating about a possible Cowboy Carter tour, a theory bolstered when Live Nation shared the teaser on its social media channels.Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2025
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With more than 170 million users in the U.S., TikTok could bolster X’s efforts to attract advertisers.Jason Ma, Fortune Asia, 14 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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