1
as in strengthened
to increase the ability of (as a muscle) to exert physical force
beefed up the walls with iron bars
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intensified
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
will beef up security for the next few days while the president is in town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beefed (up)
Verb
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Meanwhile, the latest edition of the MLB World Tour strengthened the perception of binational ties, coming in a stadium named after a Padres minority owner with a significant stake.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026 -
The gangland drama is deeper and darker than the domestic one, strengthened by the unexpected portrayal of the Russian toughs as bumbling in their own way.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The outraged reactions only intensified, including claims that teams would be reticent to do business with the Ravens in the future.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Already ongoing for days ahead of the visit, discussions about handling security intensified after a heavily armed man sprinted through security and got yards away from the banquet hall crowded with about 2,000 journalists, federal officials and celebrities before he was tackled to the ground.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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They are hardened against the effects of a nuclear blast and include a range of security features, such as anti-missile countermeasures and an onboard operating room.—
Jonathan J. Cooper,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
-
Emery prefers his players to be battle-hardened and to be involved in matches, rather than just training.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Climate change has also heightened risks.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Lufthansa just slashed 20,000 flights, and others like United Airlines are raising flight prices by up to 20% as jet fuel shortages place heightened pressure on airlines.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The artworks are enhanced with portraits of the artists and brief statements about their art.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
1 May 2026
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Bike activists in this city have, to our minds, successfully enhanced the lot of cyclists in Chicago and are fully entitled to keep pushing for more reasonable improvements.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Verb
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For Kennedy, being part of the series has only deepened her confidence.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
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His work deepened and developed under the responsiveness of the academy and a larger and not-yet-balkanized reading public.—
Nick Laird,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Beefed (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beefed%20%28up%29. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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