STRONG (stronger, strongest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: stronger    , strongest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does strong mean? 

• STRONG (adjective)
  The adjective STRONG has 10 senses:

1. having strength or power greater than average or expected

2. not faint or feeble

3. having or wielding force or authority

4. having a strong physiological or chemical effect

5. immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with

6. of good quality and condition; solidly built

7. of verbs not having standard (or regular) inflection

8. being distilled rather than fermented; having a high alcoholic content

9. freshly made or left

10. strong and sure

  Familiarity information: STRONG used as an adjective is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STRONG (adjective)

Comparative: stronger   
Superlative: strongest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having strength or power greater than average or expected

Context example:

a strong man

Similar:

beardown (with full strength)

well-knit; well-set (strongly and firmly constructed)

virile (characterized by energy and vigor)

vehement (characterized by great force or energy)

stiff (powerful)

sound (vigorous or severe)

robust (strong enough to withstand or overcome intellectual challenges or adversity)

reinforced; strengthened (given added strength or support)

knock-down; powerful (strong enough to knock down or overwhelm)

ironlike (exhibiting strength or hardness like that of iron)

industrial-strength; weapons-grade (extremely strong or concentrated or durable)

hard; knockout; severe (very strong or vigorous)

fortified (having something added to increase the strength)

bullocky (resembling a bullock in strength and power)

bullnecked (having a thick short powerful neck)

brawny; hefty; muscular; powerful; sinewy ((of a person) possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful)

beefed-up (made greater or stronger)

Also:

robust (sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction)

powerful (having great power or force or potency or effect)

rugged (sturdy and strong in constitution or construction; enduring)

tough; toughened (physically toughened)

Attribute:

strength (the property of being physically or mentally strong)

Antonym:

weak (wanting in physical strength)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Not faint or feeble

Context example:

a strong odor of burning rubber

Similar:

intense (possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having or wielding force or authority

Synonyms:

potent; strong

Context example:

providing the ground soldier with increasingly potent weapons

Similar:

powerful (having great power or force or potency or effect)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Having a strong physiological or chemical effect

Synonyms:

potent; stiff; strong

Context example:

a stiff drink

Similar:

equipotent (having equal strength or efficacy)

multipotent (able to many things)

Also:

effective; effectual; efficacious (producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect)

fertile (capable of reproducing)

powerful (having great power or force or potency or effect)

Attribute:

effectiveness; potency; strength (capacity to produce strong physiological or chemical effects)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with

Synonyms:

impregnable; inviolable; secure; strong; unassailable; unattackable

Context example:

a secure telephone connection

Similar:

invulnerable (immune to attack; impregnable)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Of good quality and condition; solidly built

Synonyms:

solid; strong; substantial

Context example:

several substantial timber buildings

Similar:

sound (in good condition; free from defect or damage or decay)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Of verbs not having standard (or regular) inflection

Context example:

'sing' is a strong verb

Similar:

irregular (contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice)

Domain category:

grammar (the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics))

Sense 8

Meaning:

Being distilled rather than fermented; having a high alcoholic content

Synonyms:

hard; strong

Context example:

hard liquor

Similar:

alcoholic (characteristic of or containing alcohol)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Freshly made or left

Synonyms:

strong; warm

Context example:

the scent is warm

Similar:

fresh (recently made, produced, or harvested)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Strong and sure

Synonyms:

firm; strong

Context example:

gave a strong pull on the rope

Similar:

forceful (characterized by or full of force or strength (often but not necessarily physical))

 Context examples 

It was over a hundred feet long, and though it was thin it was very strong.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then some new strong thought caused it to set like a mask.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

With real interest and strong admiration did her eye now follow the general, as he moved through the crowd, and “How handsome a family they are!” was her secret remark.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

He was stronger than I, that was all.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Keep your health strong over the full moon in Virgo due March 9.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

“I'm not strong enough, and I don't like the job; and there he lies, for me,” said I.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The code he learned was to obey the strong and to oppress the weak.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

He looked strong, but he wasn't.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

After a bit I began to grow anxious, for the loss of blood was telling on Arthur, strong man as he was.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“Softly, softly, do not talk so big. I am as strong as you are, and perhaps even stronger.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)