Synonyms of fortify

fortify

verb

ˈfȯr-tə-ˌfī 

1

as in to brace

to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally

Kelly fortified herself for the basketball tournament with a series of confidence-boosting exercises

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brace
• strengthen
• ready
• nerve
• steel
• reinforce
• bolster
• enforce
• forearm
• poise
• psych (up)
• arm
• sustain
• buttress
• encourage
• inure
• harden
• comfort
• inspire
• rouse
• support
• boost
• toughen
• season
• stir
• embolden
• hearten
• rally
• prop (up)
• buoy (up)
• cheer (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shake
• discourage
• demoralize
• undermine
• daunt
• unnerve
• weaken
• dishearten
• soften
• undercut
• dispirit
• debilitate
• psych (out)
• sap
• enfeeble
• prostrate
• tire
• enervate

2

as in to strengthen

to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force

he downed another granola bar to fortify himself for the rest of the bike ride

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strengthen
• harden
• toughen
• beef (up)
• energize
• invigorate
• vitalize
• temper
• tone (up)
• anneal
• firm (up)
• restrengthen

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weaken
• hurt
• impair
• injure
• paralyze
• cripple
• harm
• damage
• debilitate
• enervate
• undermine
• enfeeble
• incapacitate
• wear out
• undercut
• break down
• sap

3

as in to harden

to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure

bought lots of warm clothing to fortify ourselves against the cold

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strengthen
• harden
• inure
• steel
• toughen
• bolster
• adjust
• reinforce
• adapt
• season
• indurate
• invigorate
• vitalize
• acclimate
• enforce
• brace
• immunize
• buttress
• acclimatize
• temper
• anneal
• boost
• accustom
• support
• condition
• habituate
• naturalize
• break in
• train
• prop (up)
• forearm
• limber (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soften
• weaken
• exhaust
• emasculate
• sap
• cripple
• incapacitate
• sensitize
• hamstring
• enervate
• enfeeble
• debilitate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fortify

Residents stacked sandbags to fortify beachfront shops and evacuated their homes in some coastal areas on Thursday. — Eugene Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

For children who have dairy allergies or are lactose intolerant, finding non-dairy versions of chocolate milk—such as chocolate almond milk—that are fortified with calcium and vitamin D can be a good replacement for nutrition. — Sarah Schlichter, Parents, 25 Sep. 2026

The team’s secondary wave of high-end young talent is arriving and GM Mike Grier made splashy, aggressive moves to fortify a team that finished with a respectable 86 points last season. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2026

The addition of cotton and raw material-producing countries like Egypt and Ethiopia further fortifies a strong sourcing platform that already includes manufacturing giants India and China. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026