strengthen

verb

ˈstreŋ(k)-thən How to pronounce strengthen (audio)
Definition of strengthennext
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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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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5
as in to stiffen
to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe a bill was introduced to strengthen punishments for hate crimes

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of strengthen Its opening comes as North Korea strengthens ties with both China and Russia, underscoring Beijing’s effort to restore its influence over Pyongyang. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Cinemas are a public good, strengthening communities, supporting local economies, and cultivating the next generation of storytellers and audiences. — Sam Fleischner, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026 Rankin said the board is specifically focused on avoiding conflicts of interest in contracting, strengthening workplace culture, establishing procedures for staff to raise concerns and reviewing how vacancies and reassignments are addressed. — Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026 This process of neurogenesis (building new neurons) and constructing new nerve connections (also known as synapses) strengthens your memory and keeps your brain agile and ready to learn. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for strengthen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthen
  1. harden
  2. fortify
  3. enhance
  4. brace
  5. stiffen
  6. adjust
  7. intensify
  8. bolster
Verb
  • As cleanliness standards harden, so does a guest’s leverage when something’s visibly wrong.
    — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Now the companies that recover fastest treat a short, honest, imperfect first statement as more valuable than a polished one that arrives after the narrative has already hardened.
    — Ronn Torossian, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of harden
Verb
  • City officials have been frantically preparing for Rachel, building sand berms and fortifying vulnerable areas with sandbags.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The 10% pure L-ascorbic acid works to fight against free radical damage and even out skin tone, while a blend of hyaluronic acid and ceramides helps hydrate skin and fortify the skin barrier.
    — Deanna Pai, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of fortify
Verb
  • Pierce and Kember were born in the same place on the same day, a lore-enhancing coincidence too stupid to make up.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Here will be the makings of an 85-acre live-work-play sector of the city that theoretically will seamlessly nestle into a neighborhood and enhance everything from The Crossroads Arts District to Union Station and the National WWI Museum & Memorial.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of enhance
Verb
  • Trump’s actions come as Ukraine is bracing for a stark winter confronting Russia’s ongoing attacks on its energy infrastructure to heat homes and keep the lights on.
    — Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Those warnings, and now Bajaria’s exit, have Wall Street bracing for more turbulence ahead.
    — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of brace
Verb
  • Proposition 132 attempts to address these concerns by stiffening legal penalties.
    — Joshua Barocas, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But one of the positives Glenn highlighted was the defense stiffening in the red zone against Chicago, which went 2 of 7 inside the New York 20-yard line.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of stiffen
Verb
  • The simple industrial design gets a neat little accent in the form of a physical knob for adjusting playback, track navigation, and volume.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The first-year Falcons head coach also does not believe the game plan will need to be adjusted heading into the matchup with the Bears.
    — Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of adjust
Verb
  • Russia has also intensified attacks on Ukraine's transport infrastructure, including road border crossings, railways and shipping routes, Derkach said.
    — Elsa Ohlen,Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Support for separation intensified among some Albertans following COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates.
    — Sheena Rossiter, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of intensify
Verb
  • The absence of Karoline Vitto — who bolstered the curve representation last season in London — was palpably felt.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Such moves are typical of presidential hopefuls from both parties seeking to bolster their alliances nationwide.
    — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of bolster

Browse Nearby Words

strength
strengthen
strengthened
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Cite this Entry

“Strengthen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthen. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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