strengthened 1 of 2

adjective

as in sturdy

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strengthened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of strengthen
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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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

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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

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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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5
as in stiffened
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 strengthened
Adjective
The foundations were welded and bolted to the strengthened deck, and the rotors themselves, fabricated with inner steel cores and composite shells, were then lifted by crane. — Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026 Arreola, who knew Jackson for more than 20 years, says his lasting legacy will live on in the young leaders shaped through Rainbow/PUSH and in the strengthened relationship between Latino and Black communities in Chicago. — Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
The good news is that resilience can be strengthened long before a crisis occurs. — Brian Henriquez, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026 Away from social media, the roommates have settled into simple traditions that have only strengthened their friendship. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 The fact that Portis always has Antetokounmpo’s back has further strengthened their friendship. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 Expectations are high from Les Bleus after a dominant group-stage display that strengthened their status as favorites to lift the trophy on July 19. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 30 June 2026 In recent days, after Museveni was sworn in for a seventh consecutive term, Kainerugaba has strengthened his grip with a series of directives and orders usually reserved for the head of state. — Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 During El Niño, the subtropical jet stream is often strengthened and shifted farther south, which can increase storm frequency and rainfall across parts of the southern tier of the United States. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 29 June 2026 Flag football’s prolific growth has strengthened the sport at every amateur level from peewees to the Olympics and led to the NFL’s $32 million commitment for men’s and women’s professional flag leagues to debut next year. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 2 July 2026 During the ceremony, an international agreement between Switzerland and Nigeria was signed that strengthened agreements between the two countries with regards to their philosophies on the import, export and repatriation of cultural property. — News Desk, Artforum, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strengthened
  1. sturdy
  2. hardened
  3. fortified
  4. intensified
  5. braced
  6. stiffened
  7. toughened
  8. adjusted
Adjective
  • Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
  • For your safety, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 4 July 2026
Definition of sturdy
Verb
  • Too Early Tomatoes can suffer from leaf curl if they have not been properly hardened off or were planted when the weather was still too cool.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 July 2026
  • That separates vendors who truly hardened their posture from those who just updated their talking points.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of hardened
Verb
  • But that buy-in has to actually be fortified by something tangible.
    — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Or mountains of chips covered in mole or salsa fortified with chile pasilla in Oaxaca.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of fortified
Verb
  • Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian energy infrastructure ‌this year, causing fuel shortages in parts of Russia.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 4 July 2026
  • Gymshark’s growth has slowed as competition has intensified and consumers have become more cautious about spending.
    — Robert Olsen, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of intensified
Verb
  • Will braced himself for getting through the rest of the conversation.
    — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
  • She was braced against a near-vertical gray rock on a steep part of the mountain, with her back unnaturally arched and her face pointed at the sky, eyes open.
    — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of braced
Verb
  • Pulisic played a dynamic first half in the Americans' historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay to open their home World Cup nearly two weeks ago, but the AC Milan midfielder came off at halftime after an injury from training stiffened up.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 June 2026
  • Nicks on the edge or stiffened, curled rubber will leave streaks.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Definition of stiffened
Adjective
  • But her thickened skin, along with her toughened reputation, felt supple now.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Trump announced a toughened stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine on Monday, setting a 50-day deadline for Moscow to reach a ceasefire or face sanctions.
    — Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 18 July 2025
Definition of toughened
Verb
  • The platform generates the complete plan behind it and flags when that plan needs to be adjusted based on progress and changing circumstances.
    — Desiree’ Stapleton, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • On the ground floor are a golf simulator and a putting green that can be adjusted for uphill, downhill, and off-camber putts.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 July 2026
Definition of adjusted

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Cite this Entry

“Strengthened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strengthened. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of strengthened for Spanish Speakers

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