stronghold

noun

strong·​hold ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld How to pronounce stronghold (audio)
Synonyms of stronghold
1
: a fortified place
2
a
: a place of security or survival
… one of the last strongholds of the ancient Gaelic language …—George Holmes
b
: a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic
a Republican/Democratic stronghold
strongholds of snobbery—Lionel Trilling

Synonyms of stronghold

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Examples of stronghold in a Sentence

The area is a Republican stronghold. The rebels retreated to their mountain stronghold. the last stronghold of the endangered deer
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Why Obama is heading to a Democratic stronghold Why is former President Barack Obama heading to deep-blue Clayton County, where Democrats are already expecting to win big? — AJC.com, 28 Oct. 2026 The two districts have been strongholds for the GOP for decades, but this election could upend historic norms. — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 In Kiryat Shmona, a Netanyahu stronghold near the border with Lebanon, one man kicked and tore down a poster of Eisenkot. — Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 In 1930, the Communist stronghold of Friedrichshain in eastern Berlin was a run-down slum district of red-light areas, cheap bars and tenement blocks; casual violence was endemic. — Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stronghold

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stronghold was in the 15th century

Rhymes for stronghold

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Browse Nearby Words

stronghearted
stronghold
strongish
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Cite this Entry

“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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