fortress
Heavily defended structure
A fortress is a large, heavily fortified structure built to withstand attack—typically a military stronghold with thick walls, towers, and defensive positions.
Unlike a castle, which implies residence, fortress emphasizes military function.
Figuratively, anything impregnable or secure: The company's market share made it a fortress against competitors.
To fortress up is to make something defensively secure.
Defensive water ditch
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
- portcullisVertical sliding castle gate
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
- baileyCastle's enclosed courtyard
courtyard · great hall · arrow slit · murder hole · battlements · tower · keep · turret
Fortified urban stronghold
- strongholdFortified place of defense
- bastionFortified defensive position
- rampartFortified defensive wall
- garrisonStationed military force
bulwark · redoubt · keep · watchtower · bunker · blockhouse · outpost · entrenchment
Vertical enclosing structures
- towersTall vertical structures
- gatesMovable barriers at openings
- buttressArchitectural wall reinforcement
- masonryBuilding with mortared blocks
stone · crenellation · merlon · curtain wall · gatehouse · bastion · cornerstone · foundation
moat
Defensive water ditch
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
- portcullisVertical sliding castle gate
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
bailey · courtyard · great hall · arrow slit · murder hole · battlements · tower · keep · turret · rampart
citadel
Fortified urban stronghold
- strongholdFortified place of defense
- bastionFortified defensive position
- rampartFortified defensive wall
garrison · bulwark · redoubt · keep · watchtower · bunker · blockhouse · outpost · entrenchment · palisade
walls
Vertical enclosing structures
- towersTall vertical structures
- gatesMovable barriers at openings
- buttressArchitectural wall reinforcement
masonry · stone · crenellation · merlon · curtain wall · gatehouse · bastion · cornerstone · foundation · rampart
refuge
Place of safety
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- havenShelter from danger
- strongholdFortified place of defense
protection · security · shelter · safety · retreat · bulwark · bastion · shield · defense · impenetrable
siege
Encirclement forcing surrender
loophole · garrison · barricade · catapult · trebuchet · battering ram · archer · crossbow · ammunition · artillery
- sightseeinglandmarks, tourist attraction, attractions, landmark, city tours
- castleskeep, moat, drawbridge, dungeon, turret
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- Dystopia1984, Nineteen Eighty-Four, dystopian fiction, totalitarianism, Brave New World
- Medieval Europekings, queens, knights, castles, castle
- action-adventurecombat, exploration, treasure, quest, hero
fortressopen field
Unenclosed outdoor space
soft target · sitting duck · vulnerable point · palace · mansion
fortressopen door
Barrier removed for entry
public square · welcome center · agora · marketplace · commons
- medieval fortressesFortified structures from Middle Ages
- mighty fortress
- fortress wallsDefensive stone enclosures
- medieval fortressFortified structure from Middle Ages
- island fortressDefended structure amid waters
- mountain fortressesDefensive structures on peaks