Skip to main content

Strengthen vs Invigorate vs Fortify vs Energize vs Reinforce

Strengthen, invigoratefortifyenergizereinforce can mean to make strong or stronger.

Strengthen is the most general term, applicable not only to persons or their physical, mental, or moral powers but also to things material or immaterial (as a structure, a system, an aggregation, or an influence); the word can connote increase either in force, energy, vigor, and power of resistance, or in intensity, authority, or effectiveness.

Invigorate is commonly used in reference to living things or of some power or activity of a living thing and is sometimes extended to things that have powers suggestive of life; it implies an increase in vigor or vitality or active or effective strength or force.

Fortify, which primarily means to strengthen a town or city by defensive structures, in a more general sense means to strengthen against attack or stress of any sort.

Energize implies a strengthening in the form of supplying the active power for working or for being ready for work and, therefore, is used of whatever can be roused into strong activity or infused with a desire to act.

Reinforce implies the making of what is weak stronger or of what is strong still stronger by or as if by an addition that stiffens and supports, and thereby adds effectiveness, powers of resistance, cogency, or durability.