What is the opposite of “lenition”?

What is the antonym of “lenition”?

The antonyms of lenition are fortification and strengthening. The antonyms fortification and strengthening convey the opposite meaning of lenition, which is the process of softening or weakening a sound in linguistics.

Brief Definitions of the Antonym(s)

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

fortification

The process of strengthening or reinforcing something, making it more resistant to attack or damage.

Example

The fortification of the city walls made it difficult for the invaders to penetrate.

strengthening

The process of making something stronger or more robust.

Example

The strengthening of the bridge's foundation prevented it from collapsing during the earthquake.

How are these antonyms different from each other?

• 1. Fortification refers to the process of making something stronger or more resistant to attack or damage.
• 2. Strengthening refers to the process of making something stronger or more robust.
• 3. Lenition refers to the process of softening or weakening a sound in linguistics.

Good things to know

• 1. Linguistics: Use lenition when discussing phonetics and phonology.
• 2. Military: Use fortification when discussing military strategies and defense mechanisms.
• 3. Engineering: Use strengthening when discussing construction and infrastructure projects.

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Remember this!

The antonyms of lenition are fortification and strengthening. Fortification refers to making something stronger or more resistant to attack or damage, while strengthening refers to making something stronger or more robust. Use these words in specific contexts such as linguistics, military, and engineering.