1
as in hardens
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fortifies
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intensifies
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
encouraged the boarding school students to strengthen their ties with the community by doing public service
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in braces
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthens
Medical organizations like the American Dental Association criticized the move in certain states to ban the mineral, which helps prevent cavities and strengthens teeth.
—
Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
The cloud ahead of price is bullish (span A above span B) and often thickens as the trend strengthens.
—Karl Montevirgen, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Infrastructure investment further strengthens resilience.
—Assef Shaikh, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
When these pillars stand strong and tall, democracy strengthens, social divisions narrow, and the American Dream of economic prosperity is reachable by many rather than existing as a privilege reserved for a few.
—Jacob Walthour, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Linking access to credit to environmental requirements, Camuri added, encourages more sustainable production and strengthens the agribusiness sector’s environmental responsibility.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Preventative health care strengthens national resilience.
—Dr. Howard A. Selinger, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Tschacher and colleagues showed in 2024 that music can align listeners’ physiological responses and attention patterns—and that even when people aren’t feeling exactly the same emotion, the synchronicity of their reactions alone strengthens the sense of shared experience.
—Yook Jihun, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
The ensuing revitalization of search efforts, thanks in very large part to the streaming series, strengthens that theory.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026
Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
The cloud ahead of price is bullish (span A above span B) and often thickens as the trend strengthens.
—Karl Montevirgen, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Infrastructure investment further strengthens resilience.
—Assef Shaikh, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
When these pillars stand strong and tall, democracy strengthens, social divisions narrow, and the American Dream of economic prosperity is reachable by many rather than existing as a privilege reserved for a few.
—Jacob Walthour, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Linking access to credit to environmental requirements, Camuri added, encourages more sustainable production and strengthens the agribusiness sector’s environmental responsibility.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Preventative health care strengthens national resilience.
—Dr. Howard A. Selinger, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
Tschacher and colleagues showed in 2024 that music can align listeners’ physiological responses and attention patterns—and that even when people aren’t feeling exactly the same emotion, the synchronicity of their reactions alone strengthens the sense of shared experience.
—Yook Jihun, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
The ensuing revitalization of search efforts, thanks in very large part to the streaming series, strengthens that theory.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthens
Verb
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Gulf’s stance hardens There have been strong signs that the Gulf’s collective patience has been wearing thin.—
Holly Ellyatt,Emma Graham,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
-
His turn into villainy is trickier, yet Gosling hardens his voice and his gaze and successfully spars with the murderer’s row of Giamatti, Clooney, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Justin Faulk immediately fortifies Detroit’s second defense pair next to Ben Chiarot.—
The Athletic NHL Staff,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Adding keratin back into hair fortifies the strands ultimately yielding stronger, healthier hair.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Researchers have long recognized that climate change intensifies heat waves.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Chronic low back or sciatic pain that intensifies monthly may be treated as a musculoskeletal problem.—
Sarah Berg,
STAT,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Vietnam’s airlines are suspending some domestic routes as the country braces for jet fuel shortages.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Whenever the weather changes suddenly, or the skyline becomes shrouded in a windy haze, Fernanda Camarillo braces herself for an asthma attack.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Moving the kink to one end makes that side soft and the opposite end stiff; placing it at the center softens the middle and stiffens both edges.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
-
What began as breathlessness hardened into silicosis, an irreversible disease that stiffens the lungs until even ordinary movement becomes effort.—
Dr. Céline Gounder,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Whether the streaming platform adjusts its approach for future broadcasts like the Home Run Derby and Field of Dreams game remains to be seen.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
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The adaptive noise cancellation automatically adjusts to your environment to silence distractions, and the four digital beamforming microphones keep your voice crystal clear during calls, even in windy outdoor conditions.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jovy views emerging technology not as a replacement for creativity but as a tool that enhances it.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The transformation in Broward County proves that embracing innovation enhances safety.—
Ian Cohen,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Orkin reinforces your home's protections, targets those who have weaseled their way into your home, and starts to prep for the colder season where all those bugs will want to come back into your warm and cozy walls.—
Kate Tully Ellsworth,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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This new endeavor signals a strategic evolution in her career, bridging hip-hop with theater in a way that reinforces her while aligning her with one of Broadway’s most celebrated shows.—
Datwon Thomas,
VIBE.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthens. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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