It is important to strengthen the basis.
Source: tatoeba (20653)
Strengthen
/ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/
Synonyms for "strengthen" (280 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (56)
Verb(14 words)
accelerateaccrueaccumulateadd toadvanceaffirmaggravateanimateannealappreciateattestaugmentauthenticatebackback upballoonbe toughbear outbeef upbloat
Noun(12 words)
amplifyingarts standards reformbeefbeefsbolsteringbolstersbonderiseboost ecosystem vitalityboost readingboostingbuffbulk up
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (84)
Noun(20 words)
bulletproofingbulletproofsbuttressescapacitatingcementcementingcementsconsolidatingdevelop language skillsdeveloped language skillsdykesenhancingferrulesfirmfirmingfirmsfortify the wallsfortifyinggirdinggusseting
Verb(25 words)
buttressedcapacitate studentscementedconfirmconsolidate notesconsolidatedconsolidatescorroboratescultivatedeepensdevelop mathematical abilitydevelop number sensedevelop speaking skillsempowerempower critical thinkingempowersenhance place value senseenhance team chemistryenstrengthenentrench
Related words (140)
heartenheat upheightenhop uphot upimproveincreaseinspireinspiritintensifyinvigoratejazz upkey uplacemagnifymake complexmountmultiplynervenourish
Show 57 more words
nutrifyprepareprobateproliferatepromotepropproveramifyratifyreadyrecruitredoublerefreshreinforcereinvigoraterejuvenaterenewrestorerestrengthenrigidifyriserun upscrew upsharpenshoot upshore upsinewsnowballsoup upspikespreadstaysteadysteelstep upstiffensubstantiatesupplementsupportsustainswelltempertensetightentone uptoughentrice uptripleundergirdupholdvalidateverifyvitalizewarrantwaxwhetwiden
Noun(18 words)
heighteningintensifying adverbintensifying adverb exampleintensifying adverb examplesmore physically fitpowerfully builtreaffirmingreenforcingreinforcingsinewsstiffeningsupport ecosystemssupport networktone of forcefulnesstone wordtoningtougheninguplift program
Verb(41 words)
improveimprove reading skillsincrease abilityincrease capabilityindurateintendintensifiedintensifiesinvigorateinvigoratedjustifymaintain financial stabilitymunitenervenerve uppromote camaraderierecover from illnessredoubledredoublesreenforce
Adjective(4 words)
intensified noun phrasemature culturesolid coresolid object example
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: fortify, reinforce, accelerate, accrue, accumulate.
- Sentence evidence is available for strengthen, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "strengthen".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "strengthen"
Keep "strengthen" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "strengthen" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "strengthen", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "strengthen" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entriesMore specific
9 entriesCollocations
6 entriesstrengthen bonesstrengthen immune systemstrengthen memorystrengthen musclesstrengthen policystrengthen relationships
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesTranslations
16 translations across 11 languages.
Dutch
3 entries- bezielen verb (to animate)
- tot leven wekken verb (to animate)
- versterken verb (to animate)
Finnish
2 entries- innostaa verb (to animate)
- vahvistaa verb (to animate)
French
1 entries- fortifier verb (to animate)
German
2 entries- bestärken verb (to animate)
- stärken verb (to animate)
Italian
1 entries- animare verb (to animate)
Latin
1 entries- animo verb (to animate)
Middle English
1 entries- strengthen verb (to animate)
Serbo-Croatian
2 entries- osokòliti verb (to animate)
- potàknuti verb (to animate)
Spanish
1 entries- animar verb (to animate)
Swahili
1 entries- kuimarisha verb (to animate)
Turkish
1 entries- yüreklendirmek verb (to animate)
Sample sentences
27 total sentences available.
We need to reorganize it in order to strengthen our business activities.
Source: tatoeba (26500)
Passions weaken, but habits strengthen, with age.
Source: tatoeba (268511)
Western nations have to put their heads together to strengthen the dollar.
Source: tatoeba (271951)
Showing 4 of 27 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "strengthen"?
Closest matches include fortify, reinforce, accelerate, accrue, accumulate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "strengthen"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.