1
as in bracing
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
Kelly fortified herself for the basketball tournament with a series of confidence-boosting exercises
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2
as in strengthening
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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3
as in hardening
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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Recent Examples of fortifying
If readings reach dangerous levels, astronauts can construct a makeshift radiation shield inside Orion, fortifying themselves between the spacecraft's heatshield and water storage canisters, both of which are better at absorbing penetrating radiation than other onboard materials.
—
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Just this past offseason Miami put an emphasis on fortifying the trenches, correcting a past wrong, adding players with size and girth on the offensive and defensive line via the NFL Draft.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
In the ultra-competitive Western Conference, the purple and gold will be looking to continue fortifying their roster, likely through the start of the regular season, with the trade deadline of February 6th circled on their calendar.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
This healing blend is powered by Ayurvedic ingredients like virgin amla oil and brahmi, two staples in traditional hair remedies known for fortifying strands and stimulating hair growth.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Sep. 2025
Following a year in which a pair of cover songs propelled Maddell, 35, and Pavlovic, 24, to a new level of commercial success, the Australian musicians have spent much of 2025 fortifying their widening fan base.
—Josh Glicksman, Billboard, 12 Aug. 2025
Recognizing the nutritional vacuum in many products, cereal companies attempted to salvage their image by fortifying sugary cereals with vitamins and minerals.
—Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Aug. 2025
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Just this past offseason Miami put an emphasis on fortifying the trenches, correcting a past wrong, adding players with size and girth on the offensive and defensive line via the NFL Draft.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
In the ultra-competitive Western Conference, the purple and gold will be looking to continue fortifying their roster, likely through the start of the regular season, with the trade deadline of February 6th circled on their calendar.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
This healing blend is powered by Ayurvedic ingredients like virgin amla oil and brahmi, two staples in traditional hair remedies known for fortifying strands and stimulating hair growth.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 1 Sep. 2025
Following a year in which a pair of cover songs propelled Maddell, 35, and Pavlovic, 24, to a new level of commercial success, the Australian musicians have spent much of 2025 fortifying their widening fan base.
—Josh Glicksman, Billboard, 12 Aug. 2025
Recognizing the nutritional vacuum in many products, cereal companies attempted to salvage their image by fortifying sugary cereals with vitamins and minerals.
—Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortifying
Verb
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Interestingly, while many were bracing for higher prices due to tariffs, prices remain the same as last year.—
Marc Saltzman,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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The Windy City has prepared for more than a week for looming National Guard deployments and Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, from the governor bracing for a court fight to parade planners postponing.—
Priscilla Alvarez,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Building and strengthening one-on-one relationships is the way to grow and defend yourself.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
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Merrill even walked with two outs to bring the go-ahead run to the plate but Ryan O’Hearn struck out to end a loss that prevented the Padres from truly strengthening their postseason position.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fortifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortifying. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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