stronghold

noun

strong·​hold ˈstrȯŋ-ˌhōld How to pronounce stronghold (audio)
Synonyms of stronghold
1
: a fortified place
2
a
: a place of security or survival
… one of the last strongholds of the ancient Gaelic language …—George Holmes
b
: a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic
a Republican/Democratic stronghold
strongholds of snobbery—Lionel Trilling

Synonyms of stronghold

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Examples of stronghold in a Sentence

The area is a Republican stronghold. The rebels retreated to their mountain stronghold. the last stronghold of the endangered deer
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Larkin earned almost 40% of the vote in a Zionist stronghold district that includes Boca Raton and Miami Beach, where progressive criticism of Israel raises alarms among many institutions and voters. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 But the elusive marine creature’s last stronghold may have been found in a remote part of Indonesia — and scientists are racing to save it. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 In the centuries that followed, the Mission went from Mexican farmland to immigrant stronghold as waves of working-class European families moved into the neighborhood following the Gold Rush in the mid-1800s. — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026 Residents of Pale, a Bosnian Serb stronghold just outside of Sarajevo, mourned Mladic. — Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stronghold

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stronghold was in the 15th century

Rhymes for stronghold

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Browse Nearby Words

stronghearted
stronghold
strongish
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Cite this Entry

“Stronghold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stronghold. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stronghold

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