-thən verb
( strengthened ; strengthened ; strengthening -th(ə)niŋ ; strengthens )
Etymology: Middle English strengthnen, from strengthe strength + -nen -en
transitive verb
1.
a. : to give moral support to : encourage , hearten
means of strengthening the brethren and converting the pagans — Episcopal Churchnews
b. : to give added weight or incentive to : corroborate , enhance
the probability of the ascription of this passage to Democritus is strengthened by the latest research — Benjamin Farrington
2.
a. : to give added strength or vigor to
strengthen a defensive position
coarse foods strengthen the jaws — Morris Fishbein
although union membership has dropped off in some places, union organization has been … strengthened in other places — American Guide Series: North Carolina
b. : to increase in power or amount : improve in effectiveness : augment , intensify
its offices were regularly employed to strengthen the personal machine of the governor — D.W.McConnell
nothing … would so strengthen the hand of democracy as the gift of literacy — Jerome Ellison
our program of aid to scientific education … was enlarged and strengthened — Report: Monsanto Chem. Co.
working together helps to strengthen family life — Mary S. Switzer
the course might be strengthened, further, by … more effective integration of movies, visual aids, and other motivational devices — S.B.Zuckerman
c. : to heighten the artistic effect of : make more expressive
the design is strengthened by two slightly projecting corner piers — American Guide Series: Minnesota
intransitive verb
1. : to become stronger : increase in power or intensity
the light strengthened minute by minute, and then the day came — John Connell
intellectual faculties strengthened, and men … gained facility in moulding their Latin — H.O.Taylor
2. : to go higher : rise
the carrier's shares strengthened on the declaration of a 75-cent dividend and the announcement that the stock would go on a … quarterly basis — J.G.Forrest
Synonyms:
invigorate , fortify , energize , reinforce : strengthen applies to any increasing of force, vigor, power, intensity, or effectiveness
strengthening the shelf with an additional brace
be silent if you can say nothing to strengthen me in my resolution — Israel Zangwill
strengthened his entire staff with specialists wherever they were needed — Buick Magazine
a new science strengthened by proof and generalization — H.J.J.Winter
invigorate applies to whatever endows with vigor, vitality, animation, or energy
fresh air and sunshine will help to invigorate the body and improve nutrition — Morris Fishbein
gave their support to invigorated nationalist movements — Oscar Handlin
fortify suggests strengthening often against attack of any sort, use calculated to damage, or condition conducive to impairment or enervation
fortified by many recruits from the demobilized armies of Europe — C.E.Black & E.C.Helmreich
fortified her argument with quotations — H.O.Taylor
fortified by 68 tables and 75 figures, as well as by the testimony of witnesses — D.D.McKean
energize may suggest a rousing into activity along with a strengthening and heartening to sustain that activity
the imagining of beautiful settings can be more sensitizing, energizing, and exhilarating than the imagining or reporting of ugly settings — C.A.Smart
when a man and woman are successfully in love, their whole activity is energized and victorious — Walter Lippmann
reinforce applies to strengthening by augmenting with new forces or force, power, or effectiveness
fresh troops reinforcing the defenders
concrete reinforced with steel
the simple country fare provided by the home farm was reinforced by a regular supply of more exotic dainties — Osbert Lancaster
when we consider the codes of responsibility that exist in the various professions, we find generally that they do not usually come into being by means of legislation, although they may frequently be confirmed or reinforced by statutes — Lister Hill