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
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5
as in to stiffen
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe a bill was introduced to strengthen punishments for hate crimes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strengthen The ideal workout regimen incorporates both aerobic and resistance training exercises to strengthen both fiber types.8 Joint Impact Cycling, whether on an upright, recumbent, or outdoor bike, is a no-impact aerobic exercise. Tim Petrie, Dpt, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2025 That rally had been built largely on hopes for policies from Trump that would strengthen the U.S. economy and businesses. Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2025 That rally had been built largely on hopes for policies that would strengthen the U.S. economy and businesses. Alex Veiga, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025 Minimum afternoon relative humidity values ranging from 30 to around 40 percent will be common across the area, and winds will strengthen from the south and southeast to 10 to 25 mph with gusts in excess of 35 mph possible. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
  • Already, Russia appears to be hardening its stance: Moscow has ruled out any peacekeepers from NATO-member countries in monitoring any peace settlement.
    Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 24 Feb. 2025
  • More frequent and severe disasters are forcing local governments to spend more on infrastructure — like sea walls, storm pumps, and hardening critical facilities — services that are funded largely through property taxes.
    Christopher Flavelle, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Its design aligns with the relentless pace of business leadership, preserving revenue while fortifying resilience. 2.
    Jaime Catmull, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • This winter has fortified Liam’s allegiance to the Terps (21-6, 10-5 Big Ten).
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • For example, a healthcare provider using a unified content model can empower their staff to retrieve patient records or research data with ease, reducing the burden on management and enhancing patient experience.
    Daniel Fallmann, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Hawaii represented one of the most significant strategic spots on the globe, enhancing power projection across the Pacific, east or west, and bolstering the defensive perimeter of any Pacific nation that controlled it.
    Robert W. Merry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • However, some have highlighted early warning signs, like the decline in discretionary spending in the Bureau of Economic Analysis' most recent consumer spending report, suggesting that Americans are bracing for potential economic challenges.
    Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Playback footage also shows both Hudson and Common bracing for the incoming impact of the ball.
    Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • At one point, the lower half of a student’s body can be seen stiffening before the student then falls to the ground similar to a boxer being knocked out.
    Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2025
  • The big red button on the steering wheel stiffens suspension temporarily for keeping grip.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • Continuous risk monitoring evaluates each user’s risk level from their first interaction, dynamically adjusting verification measures as behavior evolves.
    Tamas Kadar, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Listen to this article After moving from Texas and transferring to Joliet Catholic, Maddux and Vince Tindal have had to adjust to a new level of competition.
    Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Fighting has intensified in recent months, with government forces gaining ground against the RSF in Khartoum and other regions.
    Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Those conversations intensified this week with interviews in Indianapolis, as teams do their due diligence.
    Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Poland, Spain, and Lithuania quickly responded to bolster Ukraine's position.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Use your learnings to bolster your security controls and processes—installing new security systems, improving security monitoring, training staff, tightening network access controls, and adjusting your incident response, business continuity, and recovery plans. 7.
    Michelle Drolet, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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