1
as in hardened
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 fortified
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 intensified
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 braced
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sturdy
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthened
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Not everyone’s bond is similarly strengthened.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
Jalen Brunson leads the group, while the offseason additions of Malcolm Brogdon and Jordan Clarkson have strengthened the depth behind him.
—Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
While slogging through the South Florida heat for three-plus hours, the Pats’ pass rush actually strengthened as the game wore on.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
Additionally, seven in 10 physicians report that EHRs have not strengthened their patient relationships, while nearly three-quarters say these systems have increased their daily work hours, contributing to widespread burnout.
—Dr. Taha Kass-Hout, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The past month has renewed conversations about home rule, which many Democrats believe should be strengthened.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
These examples show that more protections need to be established and strengthened, advocates say.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Provider consolidation into large health systems has strengthened bargaining power to set higher reimbursement rates with insurers.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Such a change would come at a time when Colombia under Petro’s leadership has strengthened its ties with China.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Not everyone’s bond is similarly strengthened.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
Jalen Brunson leads the group, while the offseason additions of Malcolm Brogdon and Jordan Clarkson have strengthened the depth behind him.
—Grant Afseth, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
While slogging through the South Florida heat for three-plus hours, the Pats’ pass rush actually strengthened as the game wore on.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
Additionally, seven in 10 physicians report that EHRs have not strengthened their patient relationships, while nearly three-quarters say these systems have increased their daily work hours, contributing to widespread burnout.
—Dr. Taha Kass-Hout, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The past month has renewed conversations about home rule, which many Democrats believe should be strengthened.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
These examples show that more protections need to be established and strengthened, advocates say.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Provider consolidation into large health systems has strengthened bargaining power to set higher reimbursement rates with insurers.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthened
Verb
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Alternatively, Venus’ initial, planetwide magma sea might have cooled and hardened into a crust quickly enough for liquid water — maybe even an ocean’s worth of water — to flow across it.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
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And those things hardened their proverbial steak, too.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Maduro has fortified his regime with Cuban advisors, Russian weapons and Chinese surveillance technology.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Foods like yogurt and kefir offer gut-friendly probiotics, and milk is often fortified with vitamin D.—
Anthea Levi,
Health,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The southern resident population faces exceptional challenges that have intensified reproductive failures.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Russia has intensified its long-range strikes on Ukraine.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Lecornu now faces the dual challenge of steering France out of its financial morass while leading a government braced for mass protests.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The news organization vigorously defended the story at the time and braced to fight the legal action.—
Niall Stanage,
The Hill,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The heart muscle may have thickened slightly, and arteries have likely stiffened, which can raise blood pressure.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Despite herself, Cali stiffened.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Fall sowing encourages sturdy plants and earlier blooms, which can be quite beneficial in hot Southern climes.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
15 Sep. 2025
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The sturdy plastic housings resist fading and cracking and are brown in color to blend with most outdoor surfaces.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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People adjusted their pava hats and clip-on flor de maga flowers, Puerto Rican symbols that made up the evening’s implicit dress code.—
Valerie Trapp,
The Atlantic,
20 Sep. 2025
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The breast milk changed aroma, and babies adjusted feeding – some even nursed longer – showing that flavors from a mother’s diet carry into milk and could shape early taste learning.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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His affection for sunflowers deepened after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.—
Christine Fernando,
Twin Cities,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The dynamic only deepened as gun ownership expanded.—
Maurizio Valsania,
The Conversation,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthened. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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