1
as in strengthens
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 intensifies
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 beefs (up)
Verb
-
Early delivery of warship strengthens fleet readiness The project is the second carrier availability to be completed on schedule or ahead of schedule from the Virginia shipyard.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026 -
Now, research strengthens an alternative theory that attributes the cooling to a violent cluster of volcanic eruptions.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So a familiar roster with a familiar coaching staff slogging through a nightmarish first month only intensifies the scrutiny.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Drought intensifies after record-dry start to 2026 A dearth of rain and snow in the first three months of 2026 has helped stoke this spring’s drought.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This investment expands the production of the Bushmaster, supports jobs, boosts sovereign capacity and enhances Australian manufacturing capabilities, standing ready to efficiently meet international demand.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Pro hairstylist Ryan Richman previously described this Briogeo cream as a lightweight, silicone-free heat-protectant cream that minimizes frizz, smooths hair, enhances shine, and protects against heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Whether schools catch up, whether employers reverse the junior hiring freeze, and whether Washington produces anything resembling a workforce policy will determine whether the current anxiety hardens into something permanent.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The initially soft capsule is further processed in a specialized structure called the ventral pedal gland near the muscular foot of the whelk, which cross-links the capsule proteins and hardens the structure before it is laid.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Local firm Studio Munge’s design is restrained but exacting, which heightens the impact of the details.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Mikhail Metzel | Via Reuters Russia has offered to help China with any potential energy shortfall, as the war in the Middle East heightens geopolitical divisions and threatens global commodity supplies.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Corporate interests hurt land-lease residents As Central Florida’s housing crisis deepens, a quieter emergency is unfolding in land-lease communities all across the Orlando area.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
After the three are released, their relationship deepens amid the challenges of rejoining society on the outside.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Beefs (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beefs%20%28up%29. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
