Dictionary entry details
• STRENGTHEN (verb)
Meaning:
Make strong or stronger
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
beef up; fortify; strengthen
Context examples:
This exercise will strengthen your upper body / strengthen the relations between the two countries
Hypernyms (to "strengthen" is one way to...):
alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)
Cause:
strengthen (gain strength)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "strengthen"):
reenforce; reinforce (make stronger)
buttress (make stronger or defensible)
brace; stabilise; stabilize; steady (support or hold steady and make steadfast, with or as if with a brace)
batten (secure with battens)
confirm (make more firm)
brace up; undergird (make secure underneath)
restrengthen (make strong again)
substantiate (solidify, firm, or strengthen)
ruggedise; ruggedize (produce in a version designed to withstand rough usage)
vitalise; vitalize (make more lively or vigorous)
batten; batten down; secure (furnish with battens)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Antonym:
weaken (lessen the strength of)
Meaning:
Gain strength
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
His body strengthened
Hypernyms (to "strengthen" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "strengthen"):
consolidate (make firm or secure; strengthen)
proof (make resistant (to harm))
back (strengthen by providing with a back or backing)
sandbag (protect or strengthen with sandbags; stop up)
toughen (make tough or tougher)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Antonym:
weaken (become weaker)
Meaning:
Give a healthy elasticity to
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Synonyms:
tone up; strengthen; tone
Context example:
Let's tone our muscles
Hypernyms (to "strengthen" is one way to...):
exercise; work out (do physical exercise)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
