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Strengthen vs Straighten - What's the difference?

strengthen | straighten |

In transitive terms the difference between strengthen and straighten

is that strengthen is to augment; to improve; to intensify while straighten is to clarify a situation or concept to (an audience).

In intransitive terms the difference between strengthen and straighten

is that strengthen is to grow strong or stronger while straighten is to stand up, especially from a sitting position.

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

    straighten

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cause to become straight.
  • To become straight.
  • To put in ; to tidy up.
  • to straighten one's affairs, or an account
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=Septembe 24 , author=Ben Dirs , title=Rugby World Cup 2011: England 67-3 Romania , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Tuilagi and Ashton started in lively fashion, centre Tuilagi doing what he does best, straightening and bursting into the line, and Ashton always looking to leave his wing and get involved in the action.}}
  • To clarify a situation or concept to (an audience).
  • (slang) To .
  • To stand up, especially from a sitting position.
  • Derived terms

    * straightener * straighten out

    See also

    * straiten