strengthen
5 antonyms and opposites of strengthen, grouped by meaning.
Verb — To make something stronger, more solid, or more effective.
Antonyms
How to use strengthen
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Middle English, formed by adding the verb ending "-en" to "strength."
Full origin of strengthen →Frequently asked questions
What does “strengthen” mean?
The word “strengthen” means to make something stronger, more solid, or more effective. In plain terms, to make something (or someone) stronger, more solid, or more convincing.
How do you pronounce “strengthen”?
“Strengthen” is pronounced STREHNG-thuhn (/ˈstɹɛŋ(k)θən/ in IPA).
How do you use “strengthen” in a sentence?
Here is “strengthen” used in a sentence: “Regular exercise strengthens the heart.”
What is another word for “strengthen”?
Words with a similar meaning to “strengthen” include anneal, brace, build up, confirm, enstrengthen and fortify.
What is the opposite of “strengthen”?
The opposite of “strengthen” — its antonyms — are weaken, atrophy, debilitate, enervate and enfeeble.
What part of speech is “strengthen”?
“Strengthen” is a verb.
Where does the word “strengthen” come from?
The word “strengthen” comes from Middle English. From Middle English, formed by adding the verb ending "-en" to "strength.".
Is “strengthen” a common word?
“Strengthen” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between strengthen and reinforce?
Strengthen is the general verb for making something stronger, more solid, or more effective, from muscles to arguments. Reinforce usually means adding extra material or support to something that already exists — reinforcing a wall, a team, or a point — so it implies strengthening by addition.
What is the opposite of strengthen?
The direct opposite of strengthen is weaken. Depending on context, undermine (to weaken gradually), dilute, and erode also work as opposites.
Is it strengthen or strenghten?
The correct spelling is strengthen: strength plus the verb ending -en. The common misspelling "strenghten" swaps the t and h; keeping the base word strength in mind prevents the error.
What is the noun form of strengthen?
The related noun is strength — the quality the verb increases — and the action noun is strengthening: "the strengthening of the bridge". Strengthen itself is formed from strength plus the verb-forming suffix -en, as in lengthen and deepen.