Strengthen

Definition: Strengthen

Strengthen

Verb

1. Make strong or stronger; "This exercise will strengthen your upper body".

2. Gain strength; "His body strengthened".

3. Give a healthy elasticity to; "Let's tone our muscles".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "strengthen" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1258. (references)

Synonyms: Strengthen

Increase

Aggrandize; raise, exalt; deepen, heighten; strengthen; intensify, enhance, magnify, redouble; aggravate, exaggerate; exasperate, exacerbate; add fuel to the flame, oleum addere camino, superadd; (add); spread; (disperse).

Physical Energy

Verb: give -energy; Noun: energize, stimulate, kindle, excite, exert; sharpen, intensify; inflame; (render violent); wind up; (strengthen).

Power

Give power, confer power, exercise power; Noun: empower, enable, invest; indue, endue; endow, arm; strengthen; compel.

Strength

Render strong; Adjective: give strength; Noun: strengthen, invigorate, brace, nerve, fortify, sustain, harden, case harden, steel, gird; screw up, wind up, set up; gird up one's loins, brace up one's loins; recruit, set on one's legs; vivify; refresh; refect; reinforce, reenforce; (restore).

Crosswords: Strengthen

You can't strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. (references; author: unknown)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Books

• 180 Icebeakers to Strengthen Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills (reference)

  (more book examples)

Theater & Movies

• Shoulder Pain Strengthen Exercises (reference)

• The Ancient Self-Healing Art of Chi Gong: Strengthen the Chi (reference)

  (more DVD examples; more video examples)

Music

• Strengthen Your Faith (reference)

  (more classical music examples; more popular music examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Strengthen the solidarity of the free world. Credit: Library of Congress.

Promote excercise to strengthen the quality of the physique of the people. Credit: Library of Congress.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support--to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective--to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak--and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run. (reference)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

He felt that to increase his knowledge was to strengthen his hatred

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Health

This can help strengthen the muscles around the vagina and bladder. (references)

Certain drugs can tighten or strengthen urethral and pelvic floor muscles. (references)

You can learn simple exercises that can strengthen the muscles near the urethra. (references)

Business

In December 1996, the PGR also opened an office to strengthen communication with NGO's. (references)

Joint venture arrangements should also be investigated to strengthen market penetration. (references)

There is also a growing market for E&T consultants as Vietnam seeks to strengthen capacity in this sector. (references)

Children

Central African Republic

The Family Code was designed to strengthen children's rights. (references)

Morocco

The League demanded that the minimum age for employment be raised and that the Labor Code under consideration strengthen the protection of child workers. (references)

Taiwan

Under a plan adopted by the NPA, city and county authorities across the island have established police task forces to strengthen their efforts against child prostitution. (references)

Civil Liberties

Ukraine

In 2000 the authorities took steps to strengthen their control over the broadcasting sector. (references)

Colombia

The UNHCR office in Bogota works to strengthen the Government's capacity to address the IDP problem and to work on regional refugee issues. (references)

Malaysia

There was little government response to the Press Freedom Day events, although the Prime Minister reaffirmed his intention to strengthen the press laws. (references)

Economic History

Czech Rep

Regular visits to the Republic will further strengthen market presence. (references)

Ukraine

The new Land Code would strengthen the legislative framework for foreign ownership. (references)

Yemen

Furthermore, Yemen will need to strengthen its transmission and distribution systems. (references)

Human Rights

Yugoslavia

The Serbian Republic has amended its criminal law to strengthen provisions prohibiting acts of torture. (references)

Saint Lucia

Other efforts to strengthen police services included adding 150 new officers, with 50 more in training. (references)

Macedonia

The Framework Agreement calls upon the Government to substantially strengthen the powers of the Ombudsman. (references)

Minorities

France

The annual NCCHR report stated that the Government should continue to strengthen its laws against racist acts. (references)

Kazakhstan

The language law was intended to strengthen the use of Kazakh without infringing on the rights of citizens to use other languages; however, it has not been funded sufficiently to make Kazakh-language education universal. (references)

Uganda

On October 19, the heads of various religious denominations in the country including the Anglican, the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council endorsed the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda Constitution, whose objective is to strengthen inter-religious dialog among the main religious groups and to advocate social topics of concern to all groups. (references)

Political Economy

France

They view a strong Europe as a way to strengthen France, both economically and politically. (references)

Estonia

Police leadership continued to work to develop, strengthen, and professionalize the police force. (references)

MEXICO

In 1997, it implemented a new copyright law and amended its penal code to strengthen penalties against copyright piracy. (references)

Political Rights

Malaysia

The Parliament in 1995 amended its rules to strengthen the power of the Speaker and curb parliamentary procedures heavily used by the opposition. (references)

Trade

Uruguay

But that pattern is starting to change as Argentina, Chile and Brazil strengthen their financial systems. (references)

Venezuela

A new Banking Law is currently being developed that is designed to further strengthen the financial system. (references)

Travel

Kenya

In response, the Kenya Wildlife Service and police have taken some steps to strengthen security in the affected areas, but the problem has not been eliminated. (references)

Women

Netherlands

Collective labor agreements usually include one or more provisions to strengthen the position of women. (references)

Central African Republic

A family code designed to strengthen women's rights was enacted in 1998; it has had a positive effect in strengthening women's rights, particularly in the courts. (references)

Worker Rights

Indonesia

There were no significant government efforts to strengthen enforcement during the year. (references)

Sweden

In 2000 a government agency, the National Mediation office, began working to strengthen the system of public mediation. (references)

Hong Kong

The Factory Inspectorate Division has been restructured to strengthen its safety and health promotion and enforcement program. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Expressions using "strengthen": strengthen oneself ♦ strengthen smb.'s hand. Additional references.

Albanian

përmirësoj (ameliorate, amend, better, cultivate, elevate, enrich, grade, improve, meliorate, mend, polish, reclaim, refine, reform, upgrade), përforcoj (add, aggrandize, confirm, engrain, establish, exalt, extend, follow up, fortify, gain a foothold, grow strong, grow stronger, increase, redouble, re-enforce, reinforce, strut, truss, underpin), konsolidoj (consolidate), forcoj (back, bake, brace and bit, cement, consolidate, cultivate, harden, increase the strength, invigorate, potentiate, redouble, reinforce, stretch, tighten, toughen). (various references)

Arabic 

‏قوى (anneal, be fortified, be more powerful, become mighty, become stronger, beefy, boost, brace, cogent, confirm, consolidate, enforce, fasten, fibrous, fortify, freshen, great, grow stronger, harden, hefty, heighten, help, heroic, in power, innervate, intensify, invigorate, nerve, prop, reinforce, sinew, stiffen, support, sustain, tighten), ‏إشتد (build up, grow, heighten, increase, intensify), ‏ثبت (affirm, anchor, assure, aver, belay, belt, bend, bite, bolt, bolt on, brace, cable, catch, chock, confirm, corroborate, countersign, demonstrate, display, endure, establish, evince, fastening, fix, lash, last, pin down, plant, prove, reinforce, secure, set, spike, stabilize, stay, steady, stick, substantiate, testify, validate, verify, warrant). (various references)

Bulgarian 

усилвам (amplify, augment, exacerbate, exalt, exasperate, fortify, heighten, increase, intensify, magnify, nurse, piece in, potentiate, sharpen, stiffen, swell, tone up, zip), укрепявам (bank, embank, entrench, fortify, secure, truss), заякчавам, засилвам се (accelerate, gather strength, intensify, pick up, recruit, tone up), засилвам (accelerate, aggrandize, confirm, grow strong, intensify, invigorate, thrive), подсилвам (buttress, enforce, fortify, invigorate, punctuate, recruit, reinforce, stiffen, tone up, touch up, undergird). (various references)

Chinese 

� 强 (energise, energising, Energize, Energized, Energizing, reinforce, reinforced, step-up, strengthened, strengthening), 棐 (Torreya nucifera). (various references)

Czech

zesílit (become stronger, enforce, fill out, grow strong, grow stronger, increase, intensify, magnify, reinforce, turn up), utvrdit (forge), utužit, upevnit (anchor, confine, consolidate, fasten, fix, forge, infix, make up, moor, picket, plant, plant in, rivet, secure, ship, solidify, Spike, steady), posílit (augment, beef up, brace, build up, buttress, corroborate, fortify, invigorate, recruit, reinforce, revitalize), ozdravit. (various references)

Danish

styrke samordningen af den monetære politik (to strengthen the coordination of monetary policies), styrke farven (increase the inking, strengthen the colour), som tilstraeber at styrke enheden i deres oekonomier (anxious to strengthen the unity of their economies), som har sat sig for ved denne forening af de oekonomiske kraefter at bevare og styrke freden og friheden (resolved by thus pooling their resources to preserve and strengthen peace and liberty), skraastivere er de skraatstillede staalprofiler,der afstiver de vandrette staalprofiler (the braces are the structural members used to strengthen the derrick by proper bracing between the girts), trykke mere fedt (increase the inking, strengthen the colour), oege Det europaeiske Faellesskabs legitimitet (to strengthen the legitimacy of the European Community), grønbog om de strategiske muligheder for at styrke programindustrien (Green Paper on strategy options to strengthen the European programme industry), EF-handlingsprogram til forbedring af den europæiske industris konkurrenceevne (Community action programme to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry), bevare og styrke freden og friheden (to preserve and strengthen peace and liberty), at styrke regeringernes solidaritet gennem harmonisering af deres synspunkter,afstemning af deres holdninger og...faelles handling (to strengthen solidarity between Governments by promoting the harmonization of their views and the alignment of their positions and ... joint action), at styrke forbindelserne mellem undervisnings-og forskningsinstitutionerne (to strengthen the links among educational and scientific establishments). (various references)

Dutch

vetter drukken (increase the inking, strengthen the colour), verlangende,de eenheid hunner volkshuishoudingen te versterken (anxious to strengthen the unity of their economies), vastbesloten,door deze bundeling van krachten de waarborgen voor vrede en vrijheid te versterken (resolved by thus pooling their resources to preserve and strengthen peace and liberty), meer inkt geven (increase the inking, strengthen the colour), het versterken van de coördinatie van het monetair beleid (to strengthen the coordination of monetary policies), groenboek over strategische opties voor de versterking van de programma-industrie (Green Paper on strategy options to strengthen the European programme industry), de waarborgen voor vrede en vrijheid versterken (to preserve and strengthen peace and liberty), de verbandstaven zijn de constructiedelen die de verbinding vormen tussen de spanten en zo de boortoren de nodige stevigheid verlenen (the braces are the structural members used to strengthen the derrick by proper bracing between the girts), de legitimiteit van de Europese Gemeenschap versterken (to strengthen the legitimacy of the European Community), de banden tussen instellingen van onderwijs en wetenschap versterken (to strengthen the links among educational and scientific establishments), Communautair actieprogramma ten behoeve van het concurrentievermogen van de Europese industrie (Community action programme to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry). (various references)

Farsi 

نیرومندکردن (Gird, Power), قوی کردن (Able), تقویت یافتن , تقویت دادن , تحکیم کردن (Bully, Prestress). (various references)

Finnish

voimistua (be strengthened, become stronger, gain strength), varmrtaa (certify, confirm, half-cock, put at safety, verify), vakaannuttaa (establish, settle, stabilize), vahvistaa (acknowledge, confirm, corroborate, ratify, reinforce, verify), tukea (give support, prop, subsidize, support, sustain), lujittaa (cement, make firmer). (various references)

French

se raffermir (get stronger), renforcer (stiffen), rendre fort (be strengthened), raffermir, fortifiez, fortifier, fortifient, affermissez, affermissent. (various references)

German

stärken (boost, brace, fortes, fortify, grossnesses, improve, increase, invigorate, pander, refresh, reinforce, starch, stiffen, to strengthen, vigorousnesses). (various references)

Greek 

ενισχύω (amplify, back, boost, corroborate, reenforce, reinforce), εδραιώνω (consolidate, secure), δυναμώνω (cement, turn up). (various references)

Hebrew 

לעו�"�" (cheer, cheer up, embolden, encourage, hearten, invigorate, keep in countenance, man, nerve, spirit), לחזק (bolster, brace, buttress, consolidate, fasten, fortify, intensify, steady, support), לחסן (immunize, inoculate, inure, praise), ל�"תחזק (be strengthened, become stronger, brace up). (various references)

Hungarian

megerõsíteni, megerõsít (approve, attach, beef up, brace, confirm, consolidate, corroborate, defilade, depose, fasten, fix, fortify, harden, homologate, man, reinforce, underpin, uphold, verify, vouch), erõt gyûjt (gather strength), erõsít (affirm, amplify, assert, confirm, intensify, invigorate, nerve). (various references)

Indonesian

mengukuhkan (brace, fortify, install, solidify), menguatkan (aneal, consolidate, corroborate, empower, evaporate, reinforce), memperkuat (confirm, fortify, reinforce), memberatkan (burdensome, load with hallast, make things difficult for). (various references)

Irish

neartaigh. (various references)

Italian

sviluppare (cause, develop, develpo, emit, evolve, expand, generate, to develop, to device, work out), temprare (anneal, be strengthened, toughen), rinsaldare (confirm, consolidate), rinforzare, rafforzare, rinforzare (become stronger, brace, invigorate, reinforce, steady), rafforzare (confirm, get stronger, reinforce), potenziare (develop, potentiate), fortificare (entrench, fortify), amplificare (amplify, extol, extoll, fortify, reinforce). (various references)

Japanese Kanji 

厳に (fortify, rigidly, secure, severely, strictly), 強化　 (intensify, reinforce), 強化 (intensify, reinforce, solidify). (various references)

Japanese Katakana 

きょうか (bridge girder, civilization, comictanka, culture, curriculum, education, intensify, reinforce, solidify, subject), �'�"に (actually, fortify, really, rigidly, secure, severely, strictly). (various references)

Korean 

강�"하십시�" (Enhance, intensify). (various references)

Manx

niartaghey (affirm, affirmation, brace, building up, cement, confirm, confirmation, consolidate, consolidation, documentation, extend, fortification, fortify, intensify, invigorate, nerve, reinforce, reinforcement, stiffen), lajeragh (strengthening), goaill niart (prevail, prevailing, prevalent). (various references)

Pig Latin

engthenstray.(various references)

Portuguese

fortificar (embattle, fortify, invigorate, sconce, secure, wall). (various references)

Romanian

se fortifica (fortify), se consolida (consolidate, firm, solidify, stiffen), reconforta (refresh), oţeli (harden, reinforce, steel, temper), fortifica (consolidate, fortify, invigorate, reinforce), fixa (accommodate, adapt, adjust, affix, anchor, appoint, arrange, arrest, ascertain, assess, assign, attach, attune, bed, bind, bond, brace, clamp, clasp, define, determine, dog, establish, fasten, find, fit, fix, hitch, immobilize, impact, imprint, indicate, ingrain, lay, make fast, Mount, nail, nail down, name, nominate, pin, pin down, place, put on, recognize, regulate, schedule, secure, settle, stamp, state, stick, stiffen, stipulate, tie, trace, tune), consolida (bind, brace, bracket, confirm, consolidate, fix, fortify, fund, reinforce, rivet, secure, solidify, steady, stiffen), confirma (acknowledge, affirm, bear out, confirm, corroborate, establish, fortify, homologate, justify, receipt, sanction, validate, verify, vouch, witness), concentra o soluţie, cimenta (cement, concrete, consolidate, Grout), cãli (anneal, attemper, caseharden, chill, harden, indurate, steel, temper), accentua (accent, accentuate, emphasize, increase, sharpen, stress, underline), întãri (bind, bond, brace, bracket, confirm, consolidate, corroborate, enforce, entrench, fix, fortify, harden, indurate, invigorate, nerve, recruit, reinforce, screw, season, stay, steady, steel, stiffen, stress, tone up). (various references)

Russian 

усиливать (amplify, deepen, escalate, exasperate, give an edge, increase, intensify, redouble, reenforce, reinforce, turn up). (various references)

Scottish

treòraich (direct, lead). (various references)

Serbo-Croatian

učvrstiti (anchor, bolster, consolidate, fix, house, secure, tighten), osnažiti, ojačati (become stronger, beef, build up, fortify, grow strong, grow stronger, invigorate). (various references)

Spanish

fortalecer (anneal, encourage, firm up, fortify, tone up, toughen, toughen up). (various references)

Swedish

styrka (establishment, force, fortify, impact, intensity, invigorate, kick, loudness, lustiness, manpower, might, power, probate, prove, sinew, stamina, strength, toughen, validate, vigor, vigour), stärka (clearstarch, consolidate, fortify, invigorate, starch, toughen). (various references)

Turkish

sağlamlaştırmak (cement, consolidate, consolidation, fasten down, firm, harden, make fast, make firm, reinforce, secure, solidify, stabilize), yükseltmek (advance, amplify, boost, bump up, drive up, elevate, enhance, ennoble, escalate, exalt, force, get up, heighten, hike up, increase, Jack, jack up, lift, lift up, Louden, mark up, promote, push up, raise, rear, rise, run up, scale up, screw up, send up, set up, step up, swell out, swell up, up, upgrade, upheave, uplift), takviye etmek (back, confirm, consolidate, consolidation, fortify, reinforce, support), kuvvetlenmek (become stronger, grow stronger, pick up one's strength, solidify, wax strong), kuvvetlendirmek (beef up, brace up, build up, confirm, fortify, hop up, intensify, recruit, stiffen, support), güçlendirmek (beef up, brace, cement, enforce, enrich, exalt, make strong, reinforce, soup up, steel, support to, tone up, vivify), desteklemek (advocate, assist, back up, bear out, bear smb. out, bolster, bolster up, brace, buoy, buttress, champion, countenance, encourage, endorse, Favor, favour, fortify, give a leg up, give countenance to, go along with, help forward, hold up, identify, indorse, keep smb. in countenance, lend countenance to, logroll, nourish, patronize, promote, prop, root for, second, shore, sponsor, spoonfeed, stake, stanchion, stand, stand by, start, stick up for, subordinate, support, sustain, underpin, uphold). (various references)

Turkmen 

mдkдmlem, gьяjemek (intensify), gьязlenmek, gatalkmak (raise), bekemek (harden). (various references)

Ukrainian

підсилюватися, підсилювати. (various references)

Welsh

nerthu, grymuso, cryfhau (brace, grow strong), cadarnhau (confirm). (various references)

qan. (various references)

arma, armabit, armabitur, armabuntur, armamini, armatam, armate, armati, armatis, armatos, armatura, armaturam, armatus, armavit, armo, augeo, communi, communiendos, confirma, confirmabantur, confirmabit, confirmabunt, confirmamini, confirmanda, confirmandas, confirmandos, confirmans, confirmante, confirmantes, confirmare, confirmarentur, confirmaret, confirmasset, confirmasti, confirmat, confirmata, confirmate, confirmati, confirmato, confirmatos, confirmatum, confirmatur, confirmatus, confirmatusque, confirmaverunt, confirmavi, confirmavit, confirmavitque, confirmentur, confirmes, confirmet, confirmetis, confirmetur, constabiliti, constabilitio, corrobora, corroborandum, corroborari, corroborasset, corroboratusque, corroboravit, corroboret, firma, firmabat, firmabis, firmabit, firmabitur, firmabo, firmaboque, firmans, firmantur, firmare, firmaret, firmas, firmasti, firmat, firmata, firmati, firmatum, firmatur, firmaverit, firmaverunt, firmavit, firmavitque, firmentur, firmetur, firmo, fulcio, inmunis, inmunita, invalescebant, invalescentes, invalescit, invaluerit, invaluerunt, invalui, invaluisti, invaluit, muniendam, muniendum, muniens, munierit, munierunt, munita, munitae, munitam, munitas, munitis, munitum, munitus, muniunt, munivit, solidarentur, solidatae, solido. (various references)

conforter. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Derivations

Words beginning with "strengthen": strengthened, strengthener, strengtheners, strengthening, strengthens. (additional references)

Words ending with "strengthen": restrengthen. (additional references)

Words containing "strengthen": restrengthened, restrengthening, restrengthens. (additional references)

Misspellings

"Strengthen" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Straughan, streghten, strenghen, strenghten, strenghtes, strengthe, strengthes. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

-2 letters: greenths, strength.

-3 letters: gerents, getters, greenth, netters, regents, rennets, tenners, tenters, tethers.

-4 letters: egrets, enters, ethers, genets, genres, gentes, gerent, getter, greens, greets, nester, nether, netter, regent, renest, rennet, rentes, resent, retest, sennet, setter, street, tenets, tenner, tenser, tenter, tenths, ternes, tester, tether, thegns, theres, threes, treens.

-5 letters: egers, egest, egret, enter, ernes, ester.

+1 letter: strengthens.

+2 letters: restrengthen, strengthened, strengthener.

+3 letters: restrengthens, strengtheners, strengthening, understrength.

+4 letters: restrengthened.

+5 letters: restrengthening.