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Synonyms

strength

American  
[strengkth, strength, strenth] / strɛŋkθ, strɛŋθ, strɛnθ /

noun

  • strengths
    plural
  1. the quality or state of being strong; bodily or muscular power.

  2. mental power, force, or vigor.

  3. moral power, firmness, or courage.

  4. power by reason of influence, authority, resources, numbers, etc.

  5. number, as of personnel or ships in a force or body.

    a regiment with a strength of 3000.

  6. effective force, potency, or cogency, as of inducements or arguments.

    the strength of his plea.

  7. power of resisting force, strain, wear, etc.

  8. vigor of action, language, feeling, etc.

  9. the effective or essential properties characteristic of a beverage, chemical, or the like.

    The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.

    Synonyms:
    potency
  10. a particular proportion or concentration of these properties; intensity, as of light, color, sound, flavor, or odor.

    coffee of normal strength.

    Synonyms:
    pungency, vividness, loudness, brightness
  11. a positive or valuable attribute or quality.

    I was asked to list my strengths and weaknesses.

  12. something or someone that gives one strength or is a source of power or encouragement; sustenance.

    The Bible was her strength and joy.

  13. power to rise or remain firm in prices.

    Stocks continued to show strength.

    The pound declined in strength.


idioms

  1. on the strength of, on the basis of; relying on.

    He was accepted by the college on the strength of ardent personal recommendations.

strength British  
/ strɛŋθ /

noun

  1. the state or quality of being physically or mentally strong

  2. the ability to withstand or exert great force, stress, or pressure

  3. something that is regarded as being beneficial or a source of power

    their chief strength is technology

  4. potency, as of a drink, drug, etc

  5. power to convince; cogency

    the strength of an argument

  6. degree of intensity or concentration of colour, light, sound, flavour, etc

  7. the full or part of the full complement as specified

    at full strength

    below strength

  8. finance firmness of or a rising tendency in prices, esp security prices

  9. archaic a stronghold or fortress

  10. informal the general idea, the main purpose

    to get the strength of something

  11. with ever-increasing success

  12. in large numbers

  13. on the basis of or relying upon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

strength More Idioms  
  1. see brute force (strength); on the strength of; tower of strength.


Synonym Usage

Strength, power, force, might suggest capacity to do something. Strength is inherent capacity to manifest energy, to endure, and to resist. Power is capacity to do work and to act. Force is the exercise of power: One has the power to do something. He exerts force when he does it. He has sufficient strength to complete it. Might is power or strength in a great or overwhelming degree: the might of an army.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

Etymology

Origin of strength

First recorded before 900; Middle English strengthe, Old English strengthu; see strong, -th 1

Explanation

Strength is the property of being physically strong (you can do, say, 100 push-ups) or mentally strong (you can calculate percentages in your head while people are shouting at you). Strength has several shades of meaning. The strength of something can be the measure of how much force or pressure it can withstand over time (like a flood wall). Or its potency (like a pesticide). Or its intensity level (like a radio signal). Its fighting capabilities (like an army). Or its specialty: A chameleon's strength is actually in its ability to blend in with its surroundings.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing strength

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

They’ve read the research documenting how the outdoors, including urban green spaces, improves cognition, social connection and physical strength, while decreasing depression and anxiety in all ages, but especially seniors.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 15, 2026

South Korea’s Kospi rose 2.4% on the strength of its chipmakers, China’s Shanghai Composite Index ended flat and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index was 1.05% lower.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 14, 2026

Gianni: Since Antoine Semenyo left Bournemouth, you could argue they have no clear standout individual, and some would say that's a strength of the team – the ability of the collective is all important.

From BBC Aug. 14, 2026

While experts and analysts have been concerned about the strength and longevity of the AI boom, Anthropic’s investors say the demand for the company’s services would justify that valuation, the Financial Times reported Thursday.

From MarketWatch Aug. 13, 2026

Through the streaming snow, he saw Renn pushing forwards with all her strength; Wolf staggering sideways, his eyes slitted against the wind.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

While Kelly, for all his talent, was not the most technical ballet dancer himself, he choreographs each sequence to his dancers’ strengths.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 7, 2026

The findings also raise the possibility that one of cancer's greatest strengths may eventually be used against it.

From Science Daily Aug. 2, 2026

The program “shows you your strengths and your weaknesses, and what you want to do to fix your weaknesses, to get strong, to get prepared for college,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 30, 2026

Levine also argues that insecure attachments can in themselves be strengths.

From BBC Jul. 28, 2026

Kaede had the eerie suspicion that they were merely there to watch them, to assess their strengths and weaknesses.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo

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