as in fortresses
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the island was the pirates' last stronghold in the West Indies
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of strongholds
Additionally, independent candidates aligned with the Democratic Party raised more than Republican Senate incumbents in the deep red strongholds of Montana and Nebraska last quarter.
—
Stephen Fowler, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
The Republican has leveled similar threats against Dallas and Austin, which are also Democratic strongholds with similar law enforcement and immigration policies.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
The district has been chopped up, dropping local Republican strongholds in Roseville and Lincoln and picking up staunchly blue-leaning areas, most notably by expanding into Sacramento.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Locals are still questioning why their residential areas were targeted since neither of these Beirut neighborhoods are considered Hezbollah strongholds.
—Will Clark, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
Over in Audubon Park, same date, same time, Mellow Market will be holding things down on the corner of East Winter Park Road and Corrine Drive, steps from Stardust Coffee & Film, and nearby strongholds like East End Market, The Salty and the exemplary Coro restaurant.
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported two separate Israeli strikes on two vehicles, one in the seafront town of Saadiyat and another on a coastal highway in neighboring Jiyeh, around 12 miles south of Beirut and outside Hezbollah's traditional strongholds.
—Tucker Reals, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
The filmmakers travel through Roma villages in the nation’s countryside —hard-core Fidesz strongholds — to uncover a wide network of bribery and blackmail.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 13 Apr. 2026
Some Senate races in what should be Republican strongholds are suddenly looking tighter that expected.
—Nancy Cook, Bloomberg, 7 Apr. 2026
Stephen Fowler, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
The Republican has leveled similar threats against Dallas and Austin, which are also Democratic strongholds with similar law enforcement and immigration policies.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
The district has been chopped up, dropping local Republican strongholds in Roseville and Lincoln and picking up staunchly blue-leaning areas, most notably by expanding into Sacramento.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Locals are still questioning why their residential areas were targeted since neither of these Beirut neighborhoods are considered Hezbollah strongholds.
—Will Clark, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
Over in Audubon Park, same date, same time, Mellow Market will be holding things down on the corner of East Winter Park Road and Corrine Drive, steps from Stardust Coffee & Film, and nearby strongholds like East End Market, The Salty and the exemplary Coro restaurant.
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported two separate Israeli strikes on two vehicles, one in the seafront town of Saadiyat and another on a coastal highway in neighboring Jiyeh, around 12 miles south of Beirut and outside Hezbollah's traditional strongholds.
—Tucker Reals, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
The filmmakers travel through Roma villages in the nation’s countryside —hard-core Fidesz strongholds — to uncover a wide network of bribery and blackmail.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 13 Apr. 2026
Some Senate races in what should be Republican strongholds are suddenly looking tighter that expected.
—Nancy Cook, Bloomberg, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for strongholds
Noun
-
Surface tanks are targets; subsurface reservoirs are fortresses.—
Siddharth Misra,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
France believed its Maginot Line of fortresses was impregnable – until the Germans simply went around it.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 Feb. 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
-
The surge in costs reflects a major shift for Chicago, known as one of the last bastions of big-city affordability.—
Bloomberg,
Chicago Tribune,
14 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
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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
-
The story is a bit murkier than Manichaean talk of stormers and citadels.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Intelsat’s leadership rapidly green-lighted the campaign to set up internet citadels.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The surrounding countryside is all rolling vineyards, quaint little villages, and majestic old castles.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Once tulip season ends, the ship moves to the Danube and Rhine rivers on eight- to 17-day sailings filled with castles, capital cities, and holiday markets, depending on the time of year.—
Susan B. Barnes,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Battle Sites to Visit in Puebla The Battle of Puebla took place at two forts, Loreto and Guadalupe.—
Christin Parcerisa Vigueras,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Apr. 2026
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What makes the site especially remarkable is how much of the original structure remains intact; many forts from this era were destroyed, but Fort Macon has been carefully preserved and restored, offering a rare glimpse into the past.—
Abby Price,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Strongholds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/strongholds. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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