One entry found for strengthen.

Entry Word: strengthen
Function: verb
Text: 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>
Synonyms beef (up), fortify, harden, toughen
Related Words anneal, temper; firm (up), tone (up); energize, invigorate, vitalize; restrengthen
Near Antonyms cripple, incapacitate, paralyze; damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure; break down, wear out; sap, undermine
Antonyms debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, weaken
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> -- see HARDEN 2
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> -- see INTENSIFY
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> -- see FORTIFY 1