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View synonyms for strong

strong

[ strawng, strong ]

adjective

, strong·er [strawng, -ger, strong, -], strong·est [strawng, -gist, strong, -].
  1. having, showing, or able to exert great bodily or muscular power; physically vigorous or robust:

    a strong boy.

    Synonyms: stalwart, stout, muscular, hardy, sinewy, brawny, sturdy, mighty

    Antonyms: weak

  2. accompanied or delivered by great physical, mechanical, etc., power or force:

    a strong handshake;

    With one strong blow the machine stamped out a fender.

  3. mentally powerful or vigorous:

    He may be old, but his mind is still strong.

  4. especially able, competent, or powerful in a specific field or respect:

    She's very strong in mathematics.

    He's weak at bat, but he's a strong fielder.

    Synonyms: efficient, capable, talented

  5. of great moral power, firmness, or courage:

    strong under temptation.

    Synonyms: brave, valiant

  6. powerful in influence, authority, resources, or means of prevailing or succeeding:

    a strong nation.

  7. a strong personality.

    Synonyms: intense, bold

  8. of great force, effectiveness, potency, or cogency; compelling:

    strong reasons;

    strong arguments.

    Synonyms: conclusive, impressive, cogent, persuasive

  9. clear and firm; loud:

    He has a strong voice.

  10. solid or stable; healthy; thriving:

    The banker predicted a strong economy.

    Synonyms: secure, firm, steady

  11. well-supplied or rich in something specific:

    a strong hand in trumps.

  12. having powerful means to resist attack, assault, or aggression:

    a strong fortress;

    a strong defense.

  13. able to resist strain, force, wear, etc.:

    strong walls;

    strong cloth.

  14. decisively unyielding; firm or uncompromising:

    She has strong views about the United Nations.

    He has a strong sense of duty.

    Synonyms: resolute

  15. He's a strong Democrat.

    Synonyms: vehement, fervid

  16. strenuous or energetic; vigorous:

    strong efforts.

  17. moving or acting with force or vigor:

    strong winds.

  18. distinct or marked; vivid, as impressions, resemblance or contrast:

    He bears a strong resemblance to his grandfather.

    Synonyms: clear, unmistakable, striking

  19. intense, as light or color.

    Synonyms: vivid, brilliant

  20. having a large proportion of the effective or essential properties or ingredients; concentrated:

    strong tea.

  21. (of a beverage or food) containing much alcohol:

    strong drink;

    The fruitcake was too strong.

  22. having a high degree of flavor or odor:

    strong cheese;

    strong perfume.

    Synonyms: tangy, hot, piquant, sharp, aromatic, pungent, tart

  23. having an unpleasant or offensive flavor or odor, especially in the process of decay:

    strong butter.

    Synonyms: rank, smelly

  24. of a designated number:

    Marines 20,000 strong.

  25. Commerce. characterized by steady or advancing prices:

    The market resumed its strong pace after yesterday's setback.

  26. Grammar.
    1. (of Germanic verbs) having vowel change in the root in inflected forms, as the English verbs sing, sang, sung; ride, rode, ridden.
    2. (of Germanic nouns and adjectives) inflected with endings that are generally distinctive of case, number, and gender, as German alter Mann “old man.”
    3. belonging to the morphophonemically less regular of two inflectional subtypes.
  27. (of a word or syllable) stressed.
  28. Optics. having great magnifying or refractive power:

    a strong microscope.



adverb

  1. strongly.

strong

/ strɒŋ /

adjective

  1. involving or possessing physical or mental strength
  2. solid or robust in construction; not easily broken or injured
  3. having a resolute will or morally firm and incorruptible character
  4. intense in quality; not faint or feeble

    a strong smell

    a strong voice

  5. easily defensible; incontestable or formidable
  6. concentrated; not weak or diluted
    1. postpositive containing or having a specified number

      a navy 40 000 strong

    2. ( in combination )

      a 40 000-strong navy

  7. having an unpleasantly powerful taste or smell
  8. having an extreme or drastic effect

    strong discipline

  9. emphatic or immoderate

    strong language

  10. convincing, effective, or cogent
  11. (of a colour) having a high degree of saturation or purity; being less saturated than a vivid colour but more so than a moderate colour; produced by a concentrated quantity of colouring agent
  12. grammar
    1. denoting or belonging to a class of verbs, in certain languages including the Germanic languages, whose conjugation shows vowel gradation, as sing, sang, sung
    2. belonging to any part-of-speech class, in any of various languages, whose inflections follow the less regular of two possible patterns Compare weak
  13. (of a wind, current, etc) moving fast
  14. (of a syllable) accented or stressed
  15. (of an industry, market, currency, securities, etc) firm in price or characterized by firm or increasing prices
  16. (of certain acids and bases) producing high concentrations of hydrogen or hydroxide ions in aqueous solution
  17. prosperous; well-to-do (esp in the phrase a strong farmer )
  18. have a strong stomach
    have a strong stomach not to be prone to nausea


adverb

  1. informal.
    in a strong way; effectively

    going strong

  2. come on strong
    come on strong to make a forceful or exaggerated impression

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Derived Forms

  • ˈstrongly, adverb
  • ˈstrongness, noun
  • ˈstrongish, adjective

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Other Words From

  • strongish adjective
  • strongly adverb
  • strongness noun
  • over·strong adjective
  • over·strongly adverb
  • over·strongness noun
  • self-strong adjective
  • super·strong adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of strong1

First recorded before 900; (adjective) Middle English strang, strong, Old English; cognate with Middle Dutch stranc, Old Norse strangr; (adverb) Middle English strange, stronge, Old English; cognate with Old High German strango; akin to string

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Word History and Origins

Origin of strong1

Old English strang; related to Old Norse strangr, Middle High German strange, Lettish strans courageous

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. come on strong, Slang. to behave in an aggressive, ardent, or flamboyant manner:

    When you're interviewed for the job, don't come on too strong.

More idioms and phrases containing strong

  • come on strong

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Example Sentences

Hoppe had planned to enroll at San Diego State, but the pull of Europe became too strong.

It stands to reason, then, that stronger, more connected and more trusting communities would have more success weathering the pandemic.

“We are still very far from a strong labor market whose benefits are broadly shared,” Powell said.

Direct-drive models usually cost less, but chippers with a clutch-drive often can handle tougher waste thanks to their stronger engines.

Each death is a tragedy that breaks our hearts and demands strong, urgent action.

Despite the strong language, however, the neither the JPO nor Lockheed could dispute a single fact in either Daily Beast report.

She fills her characters up—strong women beating back against a sexist system—with so much heart.

In a romantic relationship, facing humiliation or awkwardness is a strong possibility.

The strong ties he would cultivate with America were first instilled by his American mother.

The area is 98 percent white, and the Klan has a strong foothold even to this very day.

She skilfully manages the side-lights, and by this means produces strong effects.

The garrison of the town and fortress was nearly three thousand strong.

The well-known "cock and bull" stories of small children are inspired by this love of strong effect.

Those in whom the impulse is strong and dominant are perhaps those who in later years make the good society actors.

In Luke it is said, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom.”

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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