Strength vs. Strongness — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 5, 2024
Strength refers to the capacity to withstand force or stress; strongness, less commonly used, emphasizes the quality of being strong in a more abstract sense.
Difference Between Strength and Strongness
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Strength typically denotes physical power or the ability to withstand force without breaking or bending. It's often applied to materials, structures, and physical capabilities. Whereas strongness, though much less common, tends to abstractly describe the quality or state of being strong, potentially in character, resolve, or emotion.
While strength is a term widely used in contexts ranging from physical fitness to materials science, indicating measurable capacity, strongness is more qualitative, hinting at the intensity or degree of strength without a specific context or measure.
On one hand, strength can be quantified, such as the strength of a beam in engineering or the strength of a person's grip. On the other hand, strongness often appears in more subjective discussions, such as debating the strongness of someone's convictions or the forcefulness of their personality.
In literature and common speech, strength is preferred for its precision and familiarity, suggesting endurance and the ability to perform tasks requiring physical or mental effort. In contrast, strongness, though it might be used for emphasis, lacks this standardization and specificity.
Strength is integral to discussions about physical health, resilience, and material properties, often accompanied by metrics or standards. Conversely, strongness, when used, offers a more nebulous sense of intensity or potency, frequently devoid of empirical backing.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
The capacity to withstand force or stress.
The quality of being strong.
Usage Context
Physical, material, and mental capacities.
Abstract, qualitative aspects of strength.
Quantifiability
Often quantifiable (e.g., pounds, kilograms).
Largely qualitative and subjective.
Commonality
Widely used in both technical and everyday language.
Less common and more abstract.
Connotation
Implies resilience, endurance, and capability.
Suggests intensity or degree of being strong without specificity.
Compare with Definitions
Strength
Potency or effectiveness.
The strength of the medication depends on the dosage.
Strongness
Intensity of characteristics.
The strongness of the flavor surprised everyone.
Strength
Physical power.
The athlete's strength was evident in her powerful throw.
Strongness
Degree of forcefulness.
The debate highlighted the strongness of her convictions.
Strength
Mental or emotional fortitude.
His strength during the crisis was inspiring.
Strongness
Emphasis on strength.
The sculpture symbolizes the strongness of human will.
Strength
Durability of materials.
The strength of the steel beam supports the building's weight.
Strongness
Abstract concept of strength.
The strongness of their friendship was unbreakable.
Strength
Capacity for exertion or endurance.
The marathon tests a runner's strength and stamina.
Strongness
Quality of being strong.
His strongness in leadership was recognized by all.
Strength
The quality or state of being physically strong
Cycling can help you build up your strength
Strongness
The state or condition of being strong; strength.
Strength
The capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure
They were taking no chances with the strength of the retaining wall
Strength
The potency or degree of concentration of a drug, chemical, or drink
The solution comes in two strengths
It's double the strength of your average beer
Strength
A good or beneficial quality or attribute of a person or thing
The strengths and weaknesses of their sales and marketing operation
His strength was his obsessive single-mindedness
Strength
The number of people comprising a group, typically a team or army
The peacetime strength of the army was 415,000
Strength
The state or quality of being strong; physical power or capacity
The strength needed to lift a box.
Strength
The capacity to resist attack; impregnability
The strength of the ship's armor.
Strength
The capacity to resist strain or stress; durability
The strength of the cables.
Strength
The ability to deal with difficult situations or to maintain a moral or intellectual position
Does he have the strength to overcome such a tragedy?.
Strength
The number of people constituting a normal or ideal organization
The police force has been at half strength since the budget cuts.
Strength
Capability in terms of numbers or resources
An army of fearsome strength.
Strength
An attribute or quality of particular worth or utility; an asset
Your easygoing nature is one of your strengths.
Strength
One that is regarded as the embodiment of protective or supportive power; a support or mainstay
Her family has been her strength in difficult times.
Strength
Degree of concentration, distillation, or saturation
What's the strength of that cleaning solution?.
Strength
Operative effectiveness or potency
The strength of the drug.
Strength
Intensity, as of sound or light
The strength of the wind.
Strength
Intensity of emotion or belief
The strength of feeling among the voters.
Strength
Cogency or persuasiveness
The strength of his argument.
Strength
Effective or binding force; efficacy
The strength of an argument.
Strength
Firmness of or a continuous rising tendency in prices, as of a currency or market.
Strength
(Games) Power derived from the value of playing cards held.
Strength
The quality or degree of being strong.
It requires great strength to lift heavy objects.
Strength
The intensity of a force or power; potency.
He had the strength of ten men.
Strength
The strongest part of something; that on which confidence or reliance is based.
Strength
A positive attribute.
We all have our own strengths and weaknesses.
Strength
(obsolete) An armed force, a body of troops.
Strength
(obsolete) A strong place; a stronghold.
Strength
(obsolete) To strengthen all senses.
Strength
The quality or state of being strong; ability to do or to bear; capacity for exertion or endurance, whether physical, intellectual, or moral; force; vigor; power; as, strength of body or of the arm; strength of mind, of memory, or of judgment.
All his [Samson's] strength in his hairs were.
Thou must outliveThy youth, thy strength, thy beauty.
Strength
Power to resist force; solidity or toughness; the quality of bodies by which they endure the application of force without breaking or yielding; - in this sense opposed to frangibility; as, the strength of a bone, of a beam, of a wall, a rope, and the like.
Strength
Power of resisting attacks; impregnability.
Strength
That quality which tends to secure results; effective power in an institution or enactment; security; validity; legal or moral force; logical conclusiveness; as, the strength of social or legal obligations; the strength of law; the strength of public opinion; strength of evidence; strength of argument.
Strength
One who, or that which, is regarded as embodying or affording force, strength, or firmness; that on which confidence or reliance is based; support; security.
God is our refuge and strength.
What they boded would be a mischief to us, you are providing shall be one of our principal strengths.
Certainly there is not a greater strength against temptation.
Strength
Force as measured; amount, numbers, or power of any body, as of an army, a navy, and the like; as, what is the strength of the enemy by land, or by sea?
Strength
Vigor or style; force of expression; nervous diction; - said of literary work.
And praise the easy vigor of a lifeWhere Denham's strength and Waller's sweetness join.
Strength
Intensity; - said of light or color.
Bright Phœbus in his strength.
Strength
Intensity or degree of the distinguishing and essential element; spirit; virtue; excellence; - said of liquors, solutions, etc.; as, the strength of wine or of acids.
Strength
A strong place; a stronghold.
Strength
To strengthen.
Strength
The property of being physically or mentally strong;
Fatigue sapped his strength
Strength
Capability in terms of personnel and materiel that affect the capacity to fight a war;
We faced an army of great strength
Politicians have neglected our military posture
Strength
Physical energy or intensity;
He hit with all the force he could muster
It was destroyed by the strength of the gale
A government has not the vitality and forcefulness of a living man
Strength
An asset of special worth or utility;
Cooking is his forte
Strength
The power to induce the taking of a course of action or the embracing of a point of view by means of argument or entreaty;
The strength of his argument settled the matter
Strength
The amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation);
He adjusted the intensity of the sound
They measured the station's signal strength
Strength
Capacity to produce strong physiological or chemical effects;
The toxin's potency
The strength of the drinks
Strength
The condition of financial success;
The strength of the company's stock in recent weeks
Strength
Permanence by virtue of the power to resist stress or force;
They advertised the durability of their products
Common Curiosities
Is strongness a quantifiable property?
Strongness is more qualitative and subjective, making it less prone to quantification compared to strength.
How is strongness different from strength?
Strongness is a less common term that abstractly describes the quality or state of being strong, often without a specific context or measure.
Can strength be measured?
Yes, strength can often be measured, such as the physical strength of an individual or the tensile strength of a material.
Is strongness commonly used in technical fields?
No, strongness is less common and not typically used in technical fields where quantifiable measures are preferred.
Where might one encounter the term strongness?
Strongness might be encountered in discussions emphasizing the quality or intensity of being strong in a more abstract or qualitative manner.
What is strength?
Strength refers to the capacity of something to withstand force or stress without being altered or damaged.
What is an example of physical strength?
An example of physical strength is the ability to lift heavy weights or perform strenuous physical tasks.
Can emotional resilience be considered a form of strength?
Yes, emotional resilience is often regarded as a form of strength, highlighting an individual's capacity to cope with stress and adversity.
Is strongness a recognized term in psychology?
In psychology, strongness is not a widely recognized term; the field prefers more specific terms to describe mental and emotional states or traits.
In what contexts is strength used?
Strength is used in various contexts, including physical abilities, material properties, and emotional resilience.
Does the concept of strongness apply to emotions?
While less commonly used, strongness can describe the intensity or depth of emotions or convictions in a qualitative sense.
How does one assess the strength of a material?
The strength of a material is assessed through scientific testing and analysis, measuring its ability to withstand forces like compression, tension, and shear.
How do strength and strongness relate to leadership?
In leadership, strength often refers to qualities like decisiveness and resilience, while strongness, though less common, might emphasize the leader's force of character or conviction.
Can the strength of a relationship be measured?
While more abstract, the strength of a relationship can be inferred through the resilience, mutual support, and enduring nature of the bond.
How does culture influence the perception of strength?
Cultural values and norms can influence the perception of what constitutes strength, including which forms of strength are most valued.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
