strengthen

[ strengk-thuhn, streng-, stren- ]

/ ˈstrɛŋk θən, ˈstrɛŋ-, ˈstrɛn- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR strengthen ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to make stronger; give strength to.

Phonetics. to change (a speech sound) to an articulation requiring more effort, as from fricative to stop or nongeminate to geminate.

verb (used without object)

to gain strength; grow stronger.

Nearby words

strega, streicher, streisand, strelitzia, strength, strengthen, strengthless, strengthlessly, strenuosity, strenuous, strenuously

Origin of strengthen

First recorded in 1250–1300, strengthen is from the Middle English word strengthnen. See strength, -en¹

SYNONYMS FOR strengthen

1 buttress, reinforce, fortify, support.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR strengthen ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

strength·en·er, nounstrength·en·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·strength·en, verbpre·strength·en, verb (used with object)

re·strength·en, verbun·strength·ened, adjectiveun·strength·en·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for strengthened

“The institution of marraige [sic] is under attack in our society and it needs to be strengthened,” Bush wrote.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The two strengthened ties over the years and now Krauss considers Epstein a “close” and “considerate” friend.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In 2014, new or strengthened RFRAs were proposed in eight states.
RFRA Madness: What’s Next for Anti-Democratic ‘Religious Exemptions’|Jay Michaelson|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Increased access to affordable birth control has strengthened the economic security of communities.
What Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff Can Teach Hillary Clinton|Heather Arnet|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But some of the Kurds maintain a disconcerting confidence—one now strengthened by the U.S. airstrikes.
U.S. Planes are Blowing the Hell out of ISIS at Kobani, But …|Jamie Dettmer|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Should redemption take place at par, and at once, the credit of the United States could not fail to be strengthened.
The New Nation|Frederic L. Paxson
Hence the motives of his conduct to Apaecides, strengthened as these were, in that instance, by his passion for Ione.
The Last Days of Pompeii|Edward George Bulwer-Lytton
The latter hypothesis might be strengthened by other things that point to the Greenlanders having really found land in the west.
In Northern Mists (Volume 1 of 2)|Fridtjof Nansen
His statement only strengthened what we already had reason to believe.
Uncle Daniel's Story Of "Tom" Anderson|John McElroy
The piquets were strengthened and pushed forward, affording another opportunity for a useful lesson in outpost duty.
Forty-one years in India|Frederick Sleigh Roberts

British Dictionary definitions for strengthened

strengthen

/ (ˈstrɛŋθən) /

verb

to make or become stronger

Derived Formsstrengthener, noun

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

Word Origin and History for strengthened

strengthen

c.1300, from strength + -en (1). Related: Strengthened; strengthening.

strengthen

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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Nearby words

Origin of strengthen

Examples from the Web for strengthened

British Dictionary definitions for strengthened

strengthen

verb

Word Origin and History for strengthened

strengthen