fortifies

verb

present tense third-person singular of fortify
1
as in braces
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally Kelly fortified herself for the basketball tournament with a series of confidence-boosting exercises

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2
as in strengthens
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

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3
as in hardens
to make able to withstand physical hardship, strain, or exposure bought lots of warm clothing to fortify ourselves against the cold

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fortifies Inside, soy proteins repair and strengthen, copper peptides stimulate keratin production–aka the protein that fortifies and minimizes frizz–and pro-B vitamins amplify fullness. — Ellie Davis, Vogue, 25 June 2026 The Olive and June product can also be applied daily to bare nails as an intensive strengthening treatment that not only fortifies your claws, but also repairs ridges, discoloration, and pesky peeling along the way. — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 3 June 2026 The Plumb Club is involved in this effort because presenting third-party assurances of an item’s sourcing and production history builds customer trust, drives sales and thus fortifies the gem, jewelry and watch industries. — Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 What fortifies it the most is an appearance from Williams’ grandfather midway through the song. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2026 Excited yet anxious over the prospect of reconnecting with the man that got away, the pair fortifies themselves with cocktails and bubbly during a boozy dinner. — Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026 Justin Faulk immediately fortifies Detroit’s second defense pair next to Ben Chiarot. — The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026 Trading for Vucevic fortifies Boston’s front court–and provides a valuable play-making skill set to complement Jaylen Brown in a season worthy of MVP consideration. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026 That night, Pam fortifies herself with a few drinks and answers when the phone rings. — Allegra Goodman, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortifies
  1. braces
  2. strengthens
  3. readies
Verb
  • Heavy rainfall could trigger life-threatening flash flooding and landslides, while high surf and storm surge threaten east- and south-facing shorelines as Hawaii braces for Lala's landfall.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Advocates say the last-minute intervention shows what public pressure can achieve, even as the family braces for a pivotal immigration hearing and grapples with trauma from her detention.
    — Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of braces
Verb
  • Your authority strengthens when your private foundation is not treated as optional.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • However, the same methodology was used throughout the study period, which strengthens the finding of an increase over time.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of strengthens
Verb
  • Jorge Silva | Reuters As Shein readies for its Hong Kong IPO, potential investors are getting a look at the harsh reality tariffs have brought for the fast-fashion retailer.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Renovations continue as the campus slowly readies more classrooms.
    — Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of readies

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Cite this Entry

“Fortifies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortifies. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of fortifies for Spanish Speakers

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