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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:

And in an era where women were forced into gendered stereotypes – housewife, temptress, fallen woman, mixed-up girl – she satirised and sent up those roles, playing them to the hilt while emphasising her strength.

From BBC Aug. 26, 2026

Lignin gives plants much of their structural strength and represents the largest renewable source of aromatic chemicals found in nature.

From Science Daily Aug. 25, 2026

Shares of Advanced Micro Devices were climbing Tuesday after an analyst upgraded the stock and highlighted the company’s strength over competitors in the booming market for server central processing units.

From MarketWatch Aug. 25, 2026

Arabs within the SDF's ranks also defected en masse after Sharaa's army took control of two previously Kurdish-held provinces, Raqa and Deir Ezzor, leaving them at half their strength, according to Syria specialist Fabrice Balanche.

From Barron's Aug. 25, 2026

Clare released a cry, mustering whatever strength was left in him.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

But there is some evidence that the earlier a girl understands herself, the sooner she can design a life that works with her strengths and needs.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 26, 2026

The large number of participants, the lengthy follow-up period, and access to Swedish health registers were among the study's key strengths.

From Science Daily Aug. 21, 2026

The writers adapted the character to suit Reynolds’ strengths and personality, which is something Sudeikis says they’ve always done for the cast.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 12, 2026

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

Of course, to talk about the negative sections and aspects of Baltimore without talking about its strengths, its history, and its opportunities would be inaccurate.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore

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