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Strengthen vs Extend - What's the difference?

strengthen | extend | Related terms |

In transitive terms the difference between strengthen and extend

is that strengthen is to augment; to improve; to intensify while extend is to straighten (a limb).

In intransitive terms the difference between strengthen and extend

is that strengthen is to grow strong or stronger while extend is to possess a certain extent.

strengthen

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (lb) To make strong or stronger; to add strength to; to increase the strength of; to fortify; to reinforce.
  • :
  • *(William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • *:Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest,/ With powerful policy strengthen themselves.
  • *1851 , Anonymous, Arthur Hamilton, and His Dog
  • *:A little hardship, and a little struggling with the rougher elements of life, will perchance but strengthen and increase his courage, and prepare him for the conflicts and struggles of after years.
  • (lb) To animate; to give moral strength to; to encourage; to fix in resolution; to hearten.
  • *(Bible), (w) iii. 28
  • *:Charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him.
  • *
  • *:"A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there.."
  • (lb) To augment; to improve; to intensify.
  • (lb) To grow strong or stronger.
  • Antonyms

    * atrophy

    Derived terms

    * strengthener

    extend

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To increase in extent.
  • To possess a certain extent.
  • To cause to increase in extent.
  • To cause to last for a longer period of time.
  • To straighten (a limb).
  • To bestow; to offer; to impart; to apply.
  • to extend sympathy to the suffering
  • To increase in quantity by weakening or adulterating additions.
  • to extend liquors
  • (UK, legal) To value, as lands taken by a writ of extent in satisfaction of a debt; to assign by writ of extent.
  • Synonyms

    * enlarge * expand * increase * lengthen * stretch * widen

    Derived terms

    * extendible (adjective) * extensible (adjective) * extensive (adjective) * extension * extent

    Anagrams

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