strength

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

I

n. power, vigor (see strength); potency, efficacy; hardness, resistance; strength of purpose, resolution, tenacity, courage.

II

Power of exertion

Nouns

1. strength, power, energy, vigor; might, main [force], physical or brute force, manpower, horsepower; spring, elasticity, tone, tonicity, tension; stamina; brawn, muscle, muscularity, sinew, gristle, thews and sinews, pith[iness], physique; health, virility, vitality. Slang, beef, grit. See refreshment, restoration.

2. strong man or woman, tower of strength, powerhouse; athlete, gymnast, acrobat, equilibrist; Atlas, Hercules, Antaeus, Samson, Cyclops, Goliath; amazon; horse, ox; oak, rock; iron, steel, nails; iron grip, grit, bone, horn; feats of strength, athletics, athleticism, gymnastics, calisthenics. Informal, he-man, muscleman.

Verbs — strengthen, fortify, harden, case-harden, steel, toughen, indurate, roborate, brace, nerve, gird, train; set on one's legs, gird up one's loins; build (up), reinforce, restore, consolidate; confirm, corroborate (see demonstration); invigorate, vitalize, stimulate, enliven, energize, animate, encourage, lift, reman; enhance, heighten, brighten, intensify; regain strength, rally, grow, wax (see increase). Informal, beef up. Slang, give a shot in the arm, pep up.

Adjectives

1. strong, powerful; robust, stout, stalwart, strapping, hardy, burly, husky, leathery, brawny, thewy, sturdy, sinewy, virile, muscular, wiry, limber, hale, hearty, healthy, vibrant; hard as nails, hard-fisted; athletic, gymnastic, able-bodied, broad-shouldered, well-built, -knit, or -developed, strong as a lion, horse, or ox; titanic, gigantic, Herculean; mettlesome, in fine feather or fettle. Slang, beefy.

2. strengthening, refreshing, bracing, tonic, roborant.

3. irresistible, invincible, impregnable, unconquerable, indomitable, more than a match for, heavy-duty; proof; airtight, waterproof, etc.; foolproof, fail-safe.

Adverbs — by [main] force, by main strength, with might and main.

Phrases — a reed before the wind lives on, while mighty oaks do fall; when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Quotations — The gods are on the side of the stronger (Tacitus), The strongest man in the world is the man who stands most alone (Henrik Ibsen), The weak are strong because they are reckless. The strong are weak because they have scruples (Otto von Bismarck), I am strong as a bull moose and you can use me to the limit (Theodore Roosevelt).

Antonyms, see weakness.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [Power]

Syn. power, might, potency, force, vigor, brawn, energy, nerve, vitality, sinews, muscle, backbone, physique, thews, stoutness, health, toughness, fortitude, sturdiness, hardiness, stalwartness, tenacity, mana, robustness, soundness, durability.

Ant. weakness*, feebleness, loss of energy.

2. [Intensity]

Syn. force, depth, concentration, fervor; see force 3 , intensity 1 .

• on the strength of,

Syn. reassured by, in view of, as a result of; see because , since 1 .

Syn.- strength refers to the inherent capacity to act upon or affect something, to endure, to resist, etc. [ the strength to lift something, tensile strength] ; power , somewhat more general, applies to the ability, latent or exerted, physical or mental, to do something [ the power of the press, of a machine, etc. ] ; force usually suggests the actual exertion of power, esp. in producing motion or overcoming opposition [ the force of gravity, the rebellion was put down by force] ; might suggests Great or overwhelming strength or power [ with all one's might] ; energy specifically implies latent power for doing work or affecting something [ the energy in an atom, campaigned with unflagging energy] ; potency refers to the inherent capacity or power to accomplish something [ the potency of a drug ]

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

1. power force, vigor, muscle, brawn, punch, *oomph, horsepower, might, energy, potency, drive.

2. mental toughness stability, mental health, intestinal fortitude, courage, *guts, *nerve, character, endurance, durability, will, willpower, tenacity, backbone, grit.

3. solidity impregnability, durability.

4. intensity concentration, potency, power, effectiveness, forcefulness.

ANT.: 1. weakness, impotency. 2. weakness, instability, cowardice, timidity. 3. flimsiness. 4. weakness, impotence

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun 1. The state or quality of being physically strong: brawn, might, muscle, potence, potency, power, powerfulness, puissance, sinew, thew (often used in plural). See STRONG. 2. Power used to overcome resistance: coercion, compulsion, constraint, duress, force, pressure, violence. See ATTACK. 3. The condition of being free from defects or flaws: durability, firmness, integrity, solidity, soundness, stability, wholeness. See BETTER. 4. Reliability in withstanding pressure, force, or stress: fastness, firmness, hardness, security, soundness, stability, stableness, steadiness, stur-diness, sureness. See BETTER, CHANGE, CONTINUE. 5. Capacity or power for work or vigorous activity: animation, energy, force, might, potency, power, puissance, sprightliness, steam. Informal: get-up-and-go, go, pep, peppiness, zip. See ACTION.