Strengthen — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Strengthen (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. 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"

   similar: beef (up), fortify, harden, toughen
   related: anneal, temper, firm (up), tone (up), energize, invigorate, vitalize, restrengthen
   opposite: debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, weaken
   near: cripple, incapacitate, paralyze, damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, break down, wear out, sap, undercut, undermine

2. 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"

   similar: fortify, harden, indurate, inure, season, steel, toughen
   related: acclimate, acclimatize, adapt, adjust, anneal, temper, invigorate, vitalize, immunize, bolster, boost, brace, buttress, enforce, forearm, prop (up), reinforce, support, break in, limber (up), train, accustom, condition, habituate, naturalize
   opposite: soften
   near: emasculate, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, sap, weaken, cripple, debilitate, hamstring, incapacitate, sensitize

3. to make markedly greater in measure or degree

   "encouraged the boarding school students to strengthen their ties with the community by doing public service"

   similar: accentuate, amp (up), amplify, beef (up), boost, consolidate, deepen, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, redouble, step up
   related: broaden, enlarge, expand, extend, lengthen, accelerate, hasten, quicken, emphasize, point (up), sharpen, stress, augment, enforce, reinforce, restrengthen, supplement, maximize, enliven, jazz (up), aggravate, exacerbate
   opposite: abate, moderate
   near: decrease, diminish, lessen, let up (on), reduce, subdue, tone (down), weaken, dwindle, recede, subside, taper (off), wane, alleviate, ease, lighten

4. 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"

   similar: brace, forearm, fortify, nerve, poise, psych (up), ready, steel
   related: arm, harden, inure, season, toughen, bolster, boost, buoy (up), buttress, enforce, prop (up), reinforce, support, sustain, cheer (up), comfort, embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire, rally, rouse, stir
   near: daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, psych (out), shake, unnerve, debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, prostrate, sap, soften, tire, undercut, undermine, weaken

5. to make more harsh, uncompromising, or severe

   "a bill was introduced to strengthen punishments for hate crimes"

   similar: harden, harshen, stiffen, toughen
   opposite: ameliorate, ease
   near: lessen, moderate, soften