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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthen
Plaintiffs in both have raised First Amendment concerns that will likely be strengthened by the Chiles decision.
—
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
The behavior suggests bots may act not from a place of mere self-interest, but with awareness that the bot’s own shutdown would be detrimental to a peer AI, which strengthened motivation to defy user requests.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Healthcare providers, insurers and technology vendors must strengthen cybersecurity protections as attacks on medical data continue to rise.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Socializing can boost longevity by reducing stress and strengthening the immune system.
—Sharon Basaraba, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
The behavior suggests bots may act not from a place of mere self-interest, but with awareness that the bot’s own shutdown would be detrimental to a peer AI, which strengthened motivation to defy user requests.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026
Healthcare providers, insurers and technology vendors must strengthen cybersecurity protections as attacks on medical data continue to rise.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Socializing can boost longevity by reducing stress and strengthening the immune system.
—Sharon Basaraba, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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Physically frail, yet in full verbal command, Julian doesn’t talk to Lori so much as at her, pausing only to fire off questions that harden, in midair, into assumptions.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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As ideological blocs collapsed, political scientist Samuel Huntington’s influential 1996 book Clash of Civilizations articulated a growing anxiety that globalization would harden into cultural antagonism rather than consensus.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Japan considers China its main regional security threat and has fortified the country's southwestern islands near the East China Sea in recent years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The Jets were looking for a veteran to fortify their quarterback position and landed on Smith after the Raiders were set to release him.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The new menu reflects a broader trend in stadium dining, where teams are looking into unique and locally inspired food items, while also enhancing the overall game day experience.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With some non-citizens no longer eligible for Cal Fresh benefits, Orange County food banks are bracing for an influx of clients.—
Michele Gile,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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After an exceptionally active winter, South Dakota is bracing for another winter storm in early spring, a reminder that the snow isn’t quite ready to pack up yet.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
1 Apr. 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
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The long lull in excitement threatened to sap our energy, and being stuck in a car for four hours after a morning of physical exertion can stiffen the body.—
Gregory Thomas,
San Francisco Chronicle,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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All numbers were adjusted for seasonal volatility.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Still, energy analysts note global markets tend to adjust over time — even if short-term disruptions can lead to temporary price spikes.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The backlash intensified because of timing.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Most importantly, the legislation intensified punishments for those with prior convictions, with the worst offenders looking at a first-degree felony with up to 30 years imprisonment.—
Sean M. Cleary,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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From confirmation to downfall During her confirmation hearings, Bondi promised to safeguard the Justice Department’s independence and bolster its transparency.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
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In a cash crunch, streaming subscriptions also tend to be casualties, which only bolsters the value of over-the-air TV when Americans are keeping a tight grip on their checkbooks.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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