Thesaurus results for STRONGHOLDS

strongholds

noun

plural of stronghold

as in fortresses

a structure or place from which one can resist attack the island was the pirates' last stronghold in the West Indies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 strongholds As a result, Democrats make inroads even on longtime local Republican strongholds. — Matthew Blinstrubas, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2026 Valdez holds a narrow lead in polling of the race that analysts see as a test of Mamdani’s popularity in the district that includes progressive strongholds in western Queens and northern Brooklyn. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026 Thanks to climate change, mosquitoes are now found in nearly every corner of the planet, far beyond their strongholds in South America, Central America and Africa. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 19 June 2026 According to the indictment made public this week, the Hoovers had strongholds over specific hotels and motels in their territory, including the Stadium Inn & Spas. — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 More than 140 polling stations were closed on voting day in the country’s two most-populous regions, Amhara and Oromo — both opposition strongholds — over safety concerns sparked by armed groups fighting the government. — Jenny Vaughan, semafor.com, 22 June 2026 While English authorities allowed limited migration of Catholics, especially to Maryland, their Colonies remained Protestant strongholds. — Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 24 June 2026 Local communities, including Republican strongholds in Georgia and Mississippi, voiced opposition to the projects, staging protests outside the warehouses and derailing city council meetings. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 25 June 2026 Founded by veteran producer and executive Michael Africk, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of efforts to expand J-pop’s reach beyond its traditional strongholds without diluting the cultural identity that makes the genre distinct. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 15 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for strongholds

Noun

While typical apparel brands struggle with changing seasonal trends and thin profits, giants such as LVMH, Christian Dior, Hermès, Richemont and Nike have built financial fortresses.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 29 June 2026
Some, like France's Maginot Line, became border fortresses stretching for miles, while German coastal defenses sat on the cliffs of Normandy, requiring the Allies to take out with sea bombardments and direct infantry assaults.

— David Szondy June 23, New Atlas, 23 June 2026

Definition of fortresses

Noun

Magyar, whose party ousted Orban’s nationalist Fidesz party after 16 years in power in an April election, has started to overhaul Orban’s key bastions of power, including the state media.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
America’s wild places seem among our last bastions of democracy and inclusion.

— Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 3 July 2026

Definition of bastions

Noun

Scenic cruising through the Moselle Valley reveals a landscape of steep vineyards and hilltop castles, complemented by AmaWaterways’ exclusive tour of Burg Lahneck Castle and its storied past.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 June 2026
The figures for the first time give the public a concrete idea about the King’s personal wealth, as opposed to the castles, jewels and artwork that go with the job but aren’t the monarch’s personal property.

— Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026

Definition of castles

Noun

Havana, Cuba — Cuba’s tourism sector seems to have everything from white sandy beaches to Spanish colonial forts.

— Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
In its early years, the flag was primarily used on battlefields, military forts, and ships as a form of identification.

— Pete Cuddihy, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of forts

Browse Nearby Words

stronghold

strongholds

strongly

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Strongholds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strongholds. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of strongholds

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on strongholds

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tacit

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes