1
as in hardening
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 fortifying
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 deepening
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 bracing
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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5
as in stiffening
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe
a bill was introduced to strengthen punishments for hate crimes
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in reviving
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as in increase
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of strengthening
Fatemeh Jamalpour, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
The company said the bulk of the proceeds will fund the strengthening of its cloud infrastructure and international operations.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
In mid-September, the upper atmosphere and wind shear should become more favorable for the formation and strengthening of storms, Jennifer Francis, an atmospheric scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, told ABC News.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
The polar vortex is beginning its seasonal strengthening, signaling a gradual shift toward cooler weather.
—Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Steady strengthening was also forecast over the next couple of days, hurricane center forecasters said.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
Fernand will track north-northeastward to the east of Bermuda with modest strengthening expected, limited by some vertical shear.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Amorim’s men finished 24 points adrift of fifth-place Newcastle United last season, with several notable rivals spending the summer strengthening.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
This type of explosive strengthening is happening more frequently as planet-warming pollution tips the scales toward hotter oceans that fuel powerful storms.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a formal mutual defense pact, strengthening their decades-long partnership.
—semafor.com, 19 Sep. 2025
While 2025 is still underway in terms of strengthening Catalonia’s talent export position, 2026 already seems promising in terms of continuing this tradition of new talent, especially female talent, to watch.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
The alliance between Nvidia and Intel, then, reflects a focus on strengthening America’s chips champions.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
The findings suggest that paying conscious attention to fetal movements could be a natural, non-invasive strategy for strengthening attachment before birth.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
And then obviously, my holy grail from SheaMoisture is the strengthening hair and scalp oil.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 18 Sep. 2025
Building and strengthening one-on-one relationships is the way to grow and defend yourself.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
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
Adjective
Songs, reporting, and the strengthening of community under unlikely circumstances threaten the regime’s existence.
—Fatemeh Jamalpour, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
The company said the bulk of the proceeds will fund the strengthening of its cloud infrastructure and international operations.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
In mid-September, the upper atmosphere and wind shear should become more favorable for the formation and strengthening of storms, Jennifer Francis, an atmospheric scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, told ABC News.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
The polar vortex is beginning its seasonal strengthening, signaling a gradual shift toward cooler weather.
—Brandi D. Addison, jsonline.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Steady strengthening was also forecast over the next couple of days, hurricane center forecasters said.
—Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
Fernand will track north-northeastward to the east of Bermuda with modest strengthening expected, limited by some vertical shear.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Amorim’s men finished 24 points adrift of fifth-place Newcastle United last season, with several notable rivals spending the summer strengthening.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
This type of explosive strengthening is happening more frequently as planet-warming pollution tips the scales toward hotter oceans that fuel powerful storms.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
Culley emphasizes that emotional intelligence fills critical gaps by strengthening self-awareness, confidence, character, emotional agility, focus, empathy, and team collaboration.
—Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a formal mutual defense pact, strengthening their decades-long partnership.
—semafor.com, 19 Sep. 2025
While 2025 is still underway in terms of strengthening Catalonia’s talent export position, 2026 already seems promising in terms of continuing this tradition of new talent, especially female talent, to watch.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
The alliance between Nvidia and Intel, then, reflects a focus on strengthening America’s chips champions.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
The findings suggest that paying conscious attention to fetal movements could be a natural, non-invasive strategy for strengthening attachment before birth.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
And then obviously, my holy grail from SheaMoisture is the strengthening hair and scalp oil.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 18 Sep. 2025
Building and strengthening one-on-one relationships is the way to grow and defend yourself.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthening
Verb
-
Wilson’s absolutist rhetoric makes nuanced immigration reform harder by alienating potential allies and hardening opposition.—
Letters to the Editor,
Oc Register,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Three key lessons for protecting homes from wildfire emerged, two of them applying to individual homeowners hardening houses against fire, and clearing nearby flammable materials like plants and fences and one requiring communitywide action.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
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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
Verb
-
As well as job displacement, AI risks deepening wealth inequality—concentrating the gains among those who own or are able to leverage its abilities, while throwing the remainder into the same basket of the formerly employable unemployed.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Instead, officials reinforce colonial subordination while deepening the vulnerability of immigrant communities.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Large portions of the Northeast and northern Appalachians are bracing for a deep chill after the National Weather Service (NWS) issued widespread freeze warnings and frost advisories, set to take effect overnight Friday into early Saturday morning.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The changing demographics amongst this younger generation of Americans could have far-reaching implications for the economy, and many higher ed institutions—and college applicants—are bracing for its impact on the college admissions process.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
China has been a consistent source of stress for Apple, given the stiffening smartphone competition and its huge manufacturing presence in the country.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
-
But most recently it has been hit from several sides, most notably stiffening competition primarily from Amazon, off-pricers and membership clubs as well as Walmart and Target.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In an April report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2022, 1 in 31 children were diagnosed with autism by age 8 in the United States, an increase from 1 in 36 children in 2020.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
22 Sep. 2025
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There can also be an increase in blood pressure, according to Clijens.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Nonetheless, with policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance.—
Adeola Adeosun
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Adaptation shapes responses to match the level of risk, guiding users in the moment, and adjusting trust dynamically.—
Steve Riley,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But while there is a greater focus on creating differentiated, high-value experiences that customers deeply value, technology investments aimed at enhancing customer experience often fail to meet expectations.—
Rajiv Shesh,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Government policies focused on both mitigating carbon emissions and enhancing energy independence are also making headway in some locations.—
Michael Oxman,
The Conversation,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthening. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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