fortressing
Erecting protective walls
Fortressing is the act of building up defenses or retreating into a protected position.
In chess and strategy games, it describes creating an impregnable defensive structure rather than attacking: White spent the endgame fortressing around the king.
More broadly, it can mean withdrawing into safety or isolation: She's been fortressing herself in her apartment since the breakup.
Fortified defensive position
- citadelFortified urban stronghold
- rampartFortified defensive wall
- garrisonStationed military force
- entrenchmentFortified or fixed position
barricade · bulwark · palisade · redoubt · battlements · parapet · stockade · earthwork
Place of safety
- havenShelter from danger
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
- shelterProtected place or structure
- hideawaySecluded place of refuge
enclave · safeguard · asylum · protection · shielding · sanctuary · bolt-hole · redoubt
Act of taking away
- insularityNarrow detachment from broader views
- isolationismPolicy avoiding foreign alliances
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- estrangementEmotional separation between people
segregation · alienation · exclusion · remoteness · aloofness · quarantine · separatism · disconnection
bastion
Fortified defensive position
entrenchment · barricade · bulwark · palisade · redoubt · battlements · parapet · stockade · earthwork · emplacement
refuge
Place of safety
hideaway · enclave · safeguard · asylum · protection · shielding · sanctuary · bolt-hole · redoubt · keep
withdrawal
Act of taking away
- insularityNarrow detachment from broader views
- isolationismPolicy avoiding foreign alliances
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
estrangement · segregation · alienation · exclusion · remoteness · aloofness · quarantine · separatism · disconnection · impenetrability
fortressingattacking
Actively engaging offensively
assaulting · raiding · aggressing · besieging · storming
fortressingmobilizing
Assembling for action
breaking out · advancing · marching · maneuvering · flanking
effort, fort, fortress, reinforce, fortify, fortified, stronghold, forte, reinforced