reinforce
Shore up further
To reinforce is to strengthen or support something.
You reinforce a structure by adding material, reinforce an argument by adding evidence, or reinforce a military position by sending more troops.
In psychology, to reinforce behavior is to encourage its repetition through reward or response: Praising children reinforces good habits.
The spelling reenforce is rare but acceptable.
Make more robust
- bolsterStrengthen or buttress
- intensifyIncrease in degree
- amplifyIncrease in strength
- boostUpward push or increase
heighten · invigorate · solidify · augment · deepen · empower · energize · rejuvenate
To uphold or sustain
- upholdMaintain or confirm officially
- sustainKeep something going continuously
- backReverse side; support
- endorseGive official approval
advocate · maintain · preserve · underpin · prop · affirm · validate · corroborate
Carbon-hardened iron alloy
- rebarSteel strengthening concrete
- concreteSolid building mixture
- beamStructural support member
- girderMain structural support beam
strut · brace · framework · foundation · anchor · weld · rivet · truss
Learned behavioral adaptation
- behaviorManner of conducting oneself
- stimulusWhat prompts a reaction
- rewardPayment for service
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
repetition · habit · Pavlov · Skinner · operant · positive · negative · response
strengthen
Make more robust
boost · heighten · invigorate · solidify · augment · deepen · empower · energize · rejuvenate · revitalize
support
To uphold or sustain
- upholdMaintain or confirm officially
- sustainKeep something going continuously
- backReverse side; support
endorse · advocate · maintain · preserve · underpin · prop · affirm · validate · corroborate · substantiate
steel
Carbon-hardened iron alloy
girder · strut · brace · framework · foundation · anchor · weld · rivet · truss · pillar
conditioning
Learned behavioral adaptation
punishment · repetition · habit · Pavlov · Skinner · operant · positive · negative · response · learning
encourage
Urge forward with support
hearten · uplift · buoy · rally · cheer · embolden · galvanize · spur · urge · promote
troops
Military personnel collectively
backup · deployment · flank · regiment · platoon · cavalry · infantry · artillery · contingent · detachment
- build upaccumulate, amass, pile up, snowball, escalate
- building verbsbuild, construct, erect, demolish, renovate
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, fire away, take a shot
- improveimprove, enhance, better, refine, upgrade
- intensifyintensify, boost, amp up, amplify, escalate
- strengthenstrengthen, bolster, toughen, shore up, brace
reinforceweaken
Reduce in strength
undermine · compromise · destabilize · erode · damage
- positive reinforcementStrengthening behavior through rewards
- reinforced concreteCement with steel bars
- negative reinforcementLearning via relief provision
- reinforced doorEntrance with added strength
- reinforced toeFortified footwear front
- reinforced bootsFootwear with structural strengthening
reinforced, reinforcement, reinforcing, reinforcements, reinforces, reinforcer, reinforcers, unreinforced