fortress

Definition of fortressnext
as in stronghold
a structure or place from which one can resist attack the boys built a snow fortress and then challenged the neighborhood kids to an in-your-face snowball fight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of fortress Alcatraz began as a military fortress and lighthouse, then became a military prison, converted to civilian use in 1933. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026 Completed in 1960, its diagrid exterior, clad in Portland stone, sought to blend in with the rest of the upscale Mayfair neighborhood while asserting itself as an impenetrable fortress. Rebecca Rose, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2026 This Palm Springs home from Michelle Boudreau Design has a fortress quality to it, with clean solid white walls around the periphery that complement the midcentury modern home and highlight the natural landscape behind it. Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026 Later, the fortress acquired new life as both a lighthouse and customs office. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fortress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fortress
Noun
  • Kidal had long served as a stronghold of the rebellion before being taken by Malian government forces and Russian mercenaries in 2023.
    Wilson Mcmakin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • After some 53 years, Antigone remains a no-frills stronghold where community organizers trade flyers near the entrance, and the inventory captures the perspectives of life in a vibrant border city.
    Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In 1928, the original owners took over a hotel that was mere feet across one of the narrow cobblestone streets that make up the citadel and added 48, keeping the neo-Gothic style, including pretty leaded windows.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The opening bash for a new museum is a rare bird: donors can see where their massive checks went, while the public will soon see their tax dollars going to a new cultural citadel.
    Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Covering the sarcophagus Yellow daffodils bloom beside wartime fortifications at the Chernobyl plant as workers in ordinary clothes, with badges and special permits, pass through the restricted zone.
    Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The fortifications on the southern and western sides stretch 1,312 feet long, predating the 1st-century legionary camp for which Vindonissa is famous.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Hsu shines as Janet, whose trip to the castle inspires a self-discovery journey that evolves from wide-eyed, tightly wound innocence to brash confidence.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The third earl, who worked hand in hand with Sir Charles Barry and Capability Brown in the mid-1800s to fashion the current castle and gardens out of its earlier iterations.
    Danielle Parker, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Climb the 900-odd steps (or cop out in a car) for a walk through its eight baroque bastions and some breathtaking views.
    Helen Brown, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026
  • For more than a hundred years, the place has functioned as a crucial cultural bastion, hosting speakers like James Baldwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Allen Ginsberg.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Tupper appears to have been buried inside the fort because an approaching hurricane prevented transport to the post cemetery, where others were typically interred.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
  • At 35 square meters, the four Palace Rooms are the coziest but make up for it with their vantage at the very top of the fort, open-to-sky bathtubs, a private terrace, and sweeping views of the Panna National Park.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fortress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fortress. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

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