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
The United States is leading separate peace talks with Kyiv and Moscow as Ukrainian and Russian forces seek to strengthen their respective hands through territorial gains.
—
Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Women directors can take a lead role in strengthening stakeholder relations.
—Committee Of 200, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
For decades, Bayern had been surrounded by the suspicion that their transfer policy was aimed at weakening Bundesliga opponents as much as strengthening their own squad.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Tensions have risen in recent years as the US and its partners sought to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific by strengthening alliances and courting smaller nations.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Women directors can take a lead role in strengthening stakeholder relations.
—Committee Of 200, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
For decades, Bayern had been surrounded by the suspicion that their transfer policy was aimed at weakening Bundesliga opponents as much as strengthening their own squad.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Tensions have risen in recent years as the US and its partners sought to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific by strengthening alliances and courting smaller nations.
—Mike Valerio, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
Verb
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And then, as if he’s already relived the moment in question and arrived at the same, grim decision, Joel’s expression hardens.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Apr. 2025
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Farmers say their forebears initially enjoyed super yields, but the soil has hardened over time, and yields have plummeted, leading to more chemical use.—
Brooke Roberts-Islam,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But all that has only fortified a character who went from hapless brother-in-law to inarguably the most evolved one of the bunch.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2025
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Because the people in charge didn’t pick the right players, and didn’t draft well enough with the leftover picks to fortify the roster.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Multimillion-dollar residences on the stylish Soho strip enhance the neighborhood’s offerings, providing residents with unmatched dwellings.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2025
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By implementing regenerative agricultural practices, SRI focuses on enhancing soil health, conserving biodiversity, reducing chemical dependency, and promoting water conservation.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Goldman Sachs worries the stock drawdown is about to get worse, and is bracing for wider credit spreads and a recession.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
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Dealers and car buyers are biting their nails and bracing for impact as the current auto market becomes more difficult to navigate for all parties.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Pindar said the fascia can stiffen under stress or illness, reducing circulation and making waste removal more difficult.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Apr. 2025
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The Energy Department typically stiffens a requirement only after years of study, comment, negotiation and testing (and sometimes litigation) among industry, consumer and environmental groups.—
Peter Elkind,
ProPublica,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The federal government argues the states can adjust their individual budgets.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
14 Apr. 2025
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The best phone mounts rotate vertically and horizontally so riders can adjust their view according to their height.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Patterson’s departure likely will intensify UM’s efforts to find a starting caliber safety in the portal.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2025
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In this context of uncertainty, competition intensifies on entry and middle market watches.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The only evidence against defendant [Weinstein] was the complainants' testimony, and the result of the court's rulings ... was to bolster their credibility and diminish defendant's character before the jury.—
Isabella Gomez Sarmiento,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2025
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Montana is one of 23 states, along with Puerto Rico, that are eligible for the NIH’s Institutional Development Award program, meant to bolster NIH funding in states that historically have received less investment.—
Rae Ellen Bichell and Rachana Pradhan,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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