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Strong

adj. resilient, capable everyday

What it means

Meaning 1

Possessing substantial physical power or sound construction.

Reach for it when praising bodily capacity or something built to bear force

The strong porter lifted safely by asking a partner to guide the awkward end.

Meaning 2

Able to endure difficulty with effective courage or recovery.

Reach for it when encouraging a person without implying that strength excludes help or emotion

Mara was strong enough to grieve openly and still make the necessary calls.

Meaning 3

Convincing, capable, or forceful to a high degree.

Reach for it when praising an argument, skill, candidate, or performance

The application was strong because every claim had a concrete example.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2Meaning 3
everyday
warm
professional
formal

Meaning 1: Possessing substantial physical power or sound construction.

  • everyday

    powerful

    Fits when force or capacity is unusually great

    Careful Power may dominate or harm; sound strength is a different judgment.

  • professional

    sturdy

    Fits when construction withstands weight and wear

    Careful Sturdy fits bodies or objects, not emotional courage.

Meaning 2: Able to endure difficulty with effective courage or recovery.

  • warm

    courageous

    Fits when action despite fear is the evidence

    Careful Do not use it merely because someone endured circumstances they could not choose.

  • warm

    resilient

    Fits when adapting and recovering after hardship is the achievement

    Careful Resilience allows bending and rebuilding, while strong may mean resisting force.

  • formal

    steadfast

    Fits when loyalty or purpose remains firm

    Careful Changing wisely can be strong even though it is not steadfast.

Meaning 3: Convincing, capable, or forceful to a high degree.

  • professional

    capable

    Fits when dependable ability is supportable without ranking

    Careful Capable is restrained and may understate an excellent candidate.

  • professional

    persuasive

    Fits when an argument actually moves judgment

    Careful A strong argument can be logically sound before anyone is persuaded.

  • formal

    robust

    Fits when evidence or systems survive demanding tests

    Careful Robust is technical and awkward for most emotional encouragement.

Opposites 3

  • weak
  • fragile
  • unconvincing

Common phrases 3

  • strong person

    A strong person, Enzo asked the team to share the load before anyone was hurt.

  • strong argument

    The strongest argument connected the proposal to measured waiting times.

  • strong foundation

    Stone footings gave the workshop a strong foundation through the wet winter.

Word family 1

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Naomi Persephone Amethyst, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated