“Strengthened” is the past participle form of the verb “strengthen”, which means to make something stronger or more powerful. Here's an analysis of its synonyms:
Reinforced
“Reinforced” is a common synonym for “strengthened”. It implies adding extra support or material to make something stronger physically or metaphorically. For example, “The walls of the building were reinforced with steel bars.” In a more abstract sense, we could say, “His argument was reinforced by several convincing examples.” Just like “strengthened”, it focuses on enhancing the strength or solidity of something, but it often suggests the addition of an element to achieve that strengthening.
Fortified
“Fortified” also means to make something stronger, especially in terms of defense or resistance. For example, “The castle was fortified with thick walls and tall towers.” In a non-physical context, it can be used like, “She fortified herself with positive thoughts before facing the difficult situation.” Similar to “strengthened”, it conveys the idea of building up strength, but it sometimes has a connotation of preparing for a challenge or making something more resilient against possible threats.
Bolstered
“Bolstered” means to support or strengthen something, often giving it more stability or confidence. For example, “The good news bolstered their spirits.” It can be used for both tangible and intangible things. When compared to “strengthened”, “bolstered” often emphasizes providing that extra boost or support that helps maintain or increase the strength or positive aspect of something, usually in a more emotional or motivational context.
Enhanced
“Enhanced” means to improve or increase the quality, value, or degree of something. For example, “The new software enhanced the performance of the computer.” While it might not always directly translate to making something physically stronger like “strengthened” does in some cases, in a broader sense, it has a similar effect of making something better or more effective, which can be seen as a form of strengthening in terms of its overall capabilities or characteristics.
Amplified
“Amplified” usually means to make something louder, stronger, or more intense in a more general sense. For example, “The microphone amplified his voice.” In a metaphorical way, we could say, “The success of the first project amplified their determination to continue.” Similar to “strengthened”, it indicates increasing the magnitude or strength of something, but it often focuses on intensifying a particular aspect rather than just a general strengthening across the board.
These synonyms all share the general idea of making something stronger, more powerful, or better in some way, but they each have their own nuances and are typically used in different contexts depending on the specific nature of what is being strengthened and how that strengthening is taking place.