Thesaurus
strengthen
verb
Synonyms and Antonyms of STRENGTHEN
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>
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>
Related Words acclimate, acclimatize, adapt, adjust; anneal, temper; invigorate, vitalize; immunize; bolster, boost, brace, buttress, enforce, forearm, prop (up), reinforce (also reenforce), support; break in, limber (up), train; accustom, condition, habituate, naturalize
Near Antonyms emasculate, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, sap, weaken; cripple, debilitate, hamstring, incapacitate; sensitize
Antonyms soften
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>
Synonyms accentuate, amp (up), amplify, beef (up), boost, consolidate, deepen, enhance, heighten, magnify, redouble, step up, strengthen
Related Words broaden, enlarge, expand, extend, lengthen; accelerate, hasten, quicken; emphasize, point (up), sharpen, stress; augment, enforce, reinforce (also reenforce), restrengthen, supplement; maximize; enliven, jazz (up); aggravate, exacerbate
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>
Related Words arm; harden, inure, season, toughen; bolster, boost, buoy (up), buttress, enforce, prop (up), reinforce (also reenforce), support, sustain; cheer (up), comfort, embolden, encourage, hearten, inspire; rally, rouse, stir
Near Antonyms 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>
Antonyms ameliorate, ease
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up strengthen? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).