1
as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
Kelly fortified herself for the basketball tournament with a series of confidence-boosting exercises
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to strengthen
to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force
he downed another granola bar to fortify himself for the rest of the bike ride
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to harden
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure
bought lots of warm clothing to fortify ourselves against the cold
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fortify
Instead, organizations must proactively build resilience, consider concrete steps that can fortify an organization against an attack, and consider how to protect reputation through the course of the attack.
—
Sam Wolf, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Beyond aesthetics, the $11 formula fortifies your fingernails, no matter how damaged.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 5 Feb. 2026
Improves Gut Health Some cottage cheese is fortified with probiotics, live microorganisms that improve the balance of bacteria in the body.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 5 Feb. 2026
Sandoval was one of about 90 people who participated in a January 2026 whistle-kit building event with the aim of setting up and fortifying a system to alert metro Detroit community members to the presence of immigration agents.
—Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fortify
Sam Wolf, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Beyond aesthetics, the $11 formula fortifies your fingernails, no matter how damaged.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 5 Feb. 2026
Improves Gut Health Some cottage cheese is fortified with probiotics, live microorganisms that improve the balance of bacteria in the body.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 5 Feb. 2026
Sandoval was one of about 90 people who participated in a January 2026 whistle-kit building event with the aim of setting up and fortifying a system to alert metro Detroit community members to the presence of immigration agents.
—Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fortify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortify
Verb
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The apartment was unusually still, my coffee beside me gone cold, as if bracing for what would come next.—
Adrianne Wright,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Now requests are arriving steadily from New York, Maine, and Milan, other locales bracing for their own sieges.—
Kathryn Savage,
Artforum,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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PSyn supports that work by helping health plans and employer groups strengthen benefit strategy through education, practical analysis, and operational guidance grounded in real-world pharmacy experience.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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Every morning, seahorses greet their other half by performing a rhythmic dance that can last minutes or even hours to strengthen their bond.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Research has long shown that a constantly percolating stress response strains practically every body part, particularly your heart, which pumps harder and faster to ready you for action.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
5 Feb. 2026
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As well as cheeky possums and young kestrels readying to make their first flight, this year’s gallery also includes images that ask bigger questions about the human impact on the planet.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fortify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortify. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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