strongholds
Well-fortified defensive positions
Strongholds are fortified places—castles, fortresses, or well-defended positions: The rebels retreated to their mountain stronghold.
The term extends to any area where a group maintains firm control or dominance: a Republican stronghold, a stronghold of traditional values.
The singular stronghold is more common; the plural usually describes multiple such places or competing centers of power.
Fortified royal residences
- citadelsFortified urban defensive structures
- fortressesFortified defensive structures
- bastionsFortified defensive positions
- keepsRetains or strongholds
forts · ramparts · battlements · bulwarks · parapets · towers · redoubts · blockhouses
Measures preventing harm
- protectionGuarding against harm
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- sentriesSoldiers assigned to guard
- patrolsSurveillance circuits
guards · gates · walls · vaults · locks · shields · checkpoints · perimeters
Dominant group's control
- supremacyHighest rank or power
- controlAuthority to direct
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- ascendancyDominant power or influence
domination · authority · influence · sovereignty · command · rule · reign · imperialism
Sustained effort capacity
- steadfastnessFirm loyal dedication
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
durability · robustness · toughness · hardiness · stability · impregnability · invincibility · indomitability
Structures preventing passage
- bunkersFortified underground chambers
- trenchesElongated ground excavations
- dugoutsRecessed team benches
- foxholesMilitary defensive excavations
earthworks · fieldworks · gabions · entanglements · breastworks · revetments · berms · ditches
castles
Fortified royal residences
- citadelsFortified urban defensive structures
- fortressesFortified defensive structures
- bastionsFortified defensive positions
keeps · forts · ramparts · battlements · bulwarks · parapets · towers · redoubts · blockhouses · stockades
safeguards
Measures preventing harm
- protectionGuarding against harm
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- sentriesSoldiers assigned to guard
patrols · guards · gates · walls · vaults · locks · shields · checkpoints · perimeters · barriers
hegemony
Dominant group's control
ascendancy · domination · authority · influence · sovereignty · command · rule · reign · imperialism · colonialism
endurance
Sustained effort capacity
- steadfastnessFirm loyal dedication
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
fortitude · durability · robustness · toughness · hardiness · stability · impregnability · invincibility · indomitability · resistance
barricades
Structures preventing passage
- bunkersFortified underground chambers
- trenchesElongated ground excavations
- dugoutsRecessed team benches
foxholes · earthworks · fieldworks · gabions · entanglements · breastworks · revetments · berms · ditches · glacis
- castleskeep, moat, drawbridge, dungeon, turret
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- fortificationsfort, fortress, fortresses, citadel, citadels
- outpostsoutposts, outpost, frontier post, forward base, forward bases
- Pirate HavensPort Royal, Nassau, Barbary Coast, Algiers, Tripoli
- Jacobite Risinguprising, Preston, clans, Scottish Highlands, Pretender
strongholdsweak points
Areas of vulnerability
soft targets · open ground · breaches · chinks in the armor · sitting ducks
strongholdsfootholds
Secure places for feet
disputed territories · no-man's land · lost ground · battlegrounds · enemy territory