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stronghold Definition

strong·hold (-hōld′)

noun

  1. a place having strong defenses; fortified place
  2. a place where a group having certain views, attitudes, etc. is concentrated

stronghold Synonyms

stronghold

n.

  1. A fortification

    fortress, citadel, castle; see fortification 2.

  2. A center of interest

    hotbed, center, haven; see refuge 1.

stronghold Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • demolish: On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
  • fortify: Back to top Spanish Armada For centuries Boulogne was a heavily fortified border stronghold.
  • remain: The magnificently situated Urquhart Castle, on the banks of Loch Ness, remains an impressive stronghold despite its ruinous state.
  • capture: THE BATTLE FOR BILBAO Nationalists began an offensive in the North in an attempt to capture the Basque stronghold on 31 st March 1937.
  • destroy: Marching his legions west to destroy the Druid strongholds, the Roman governor has left the cities of eastern Britain wide open.

Adjective modifier

  • Lancastrian: On 24 June 1464, the Lancastrian stronghold of Dunstanburgh Castle also fell to the forces of Edward IV.
  • insurgent: The violence across Iraq, in the last week, is apparently in response to the assault on the insurgent stronghold, Fallujah.
  • Parliamentarian: With Furness being a Parliamentarian stronghold, Piel Harbor was the safest place for the fleet to anchor.
  • royalist: During the English Civil War Bolton was a royalist stronghold, and was besieged and fell to Cromwell in 1645.
  • rebel: A large French fleet set sail bound for London, a rebel stronghold, commanded by Eustace the Monk.
  • Republican: This has caused much bad feeling in a traditionally Republican stronghold.

Noun used with modifier

  • Frelimo: In the southern provinces, all regarded as Frelimo strongholds, there was no violence.
  • Renamo: The larger than expected turnout is as true of Renamo strongholds such as Beira as of Frelimo ones such as Maputo.
  • royalist: Bristol was captured by Prince Rupert during the Civil War the west becoming a prominent Royalist stronghold.
  • rebel: A mosque in the former rebel stronghold had been rebuilt, and refugees had begun to return.
  • mountain: Numerous mountain strongholds rendered the task virtually impossible for the Turks.
  • enemy: If you're going into an enemy stronghold from the top, use the drill to make a quick entrance.

Possessives

  • enemy: The enemy's strongholds in your life must be pulled down.

Preposition: of

  • species: The fairly stable center of distribution in the southwest of the UK appears to constitute a major European stronghold of the species.

Preposition: for

  • species: Scottish rivers in particular are a European stronghold for the species.
stronghold Quotes

Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott, Ein'guteWehr und Waffen. A safe stronghold our God is still, A trusty shield and weapon.

—Luther, Martin