Here’s why you should be looking for synonyms for “strong” to use on your resume:
A standout resume gives recruiters a clear picture of your skills, values, and relevant track record. To create a resume that recruiters can’t ignore, you need to use powerful adjectives that tell a compelling story and paint a clear picture of what you bring to the table.
One of the most useful adjectives to use on a resume is “strong”.
This word is used to describe something robust or effective. When used to describe an accomplishment, it communicates that something was done with exceptional skill or was completed with great success.
While the adjective “strong” can indeed be effective at showcasing your skills, it, however, has been overused in too many resumes. The result? Recruiters can easily shrug it off as just another vague adjective that applicants use to describe themselves or their experience.
There are better, more descriptive synonyms for “strong” that you can use instead on your resume.
In this guide, you will learn what these synonyms are and how to use them to make your resume one that recruiters can’t say no to.
Synonyms for Strong to put on your resume
Here are 40 “strong” synonyms that can bolster your resume. Choose one that best describes your expertise or accomplishment.
- Capable
- Compelling
- Comprehensive
- Dynamic
- Enduring
- Energetic
- Energized
- Expert
- Fit
- Flourishing
- Forceful
- Fortified
- Healthy
- Impactful
- Innovative
- Insightful
- Intensive
- Interactive
- Invigorated
- Lasting
- Masterful
- Potent
- Powerful
- Prospering
- Professional
- Resilient
- Robust
- Seasoned
- Solid
- Sound
- Stable
- Stalwart
- Staunch
- Strengthened
- Specialized
- Sturdy
- Talented
- Tenacious
- Tough
- Vigorous
How to replace Strong with a better synonym
To replace “strong” with a more powerful synonym, choose a word that best describes your skills, traits, or accomplishments.
The aim is to create a more impactful description of what you’re capable of doing so that you leave a positive impression and land that long-awaited interview.
For example:
Instead of saying,
I have a strong grasp of classroom management.
You can say,
With expert classroom management skills, I established a new code of conduct and classroom policies that addressed racism, discrimination, and bullying among students.
In the first example, the sentence is vague. It merely says that the applicant’s classroom management skills are “strong” but fails to say exactly what competencies they have or what techniques were employed successfully.
In comparison, the second example uses a more descriptive adjective, “expert”, which gives recruiters an idea with regard to the degree of knowledge and competency.
By adding details that describe specific achievements, the applicant is also able to emphasize important contributions.
Here is another example:
Instead of saying,
I have strong people management skills.
You can say,
I am a seasoned HR professional with expertise in creating and executing effective HR strategies and fostering positive employee relationships.
Like in the previous example, the first sentence fails to tell exactly how solid the applicant’s HR competencies are and what aspects of HR practice they are skilled at.
In contrast, the second sentence is made more robust with the use of the word “seasoned”. This more descriptive synonym helps recruiters better understand the applicant’s level of experience.
Examples of how to use synonyms for Strong
Take a look at the following examples of how to use synonyms for “strong” on a resume:
- Developed a solid marketing campaign that boosted traffic by 30% and increased conversion rates by 15%.
- Wrote compelling scripts for independent documentaries that gave audiences a closer look into the 2008 economic crisis.
- Started an innovative farmer-to-market system through which local farmers were able to sell produce straight to target markets at competitive prices.
- Published comprehensive scientific studies on the endangered Philippine cockatoo and the impact of its declining population on other Palawan-endemic species.
- Spearheaded product design and developed interactive trail experiences for guests on site.
- Made a lasting impact on our target communities by initiating programs that provided opportunities for livelihood for households earning below minimum wage.
- Reduced instances of bullying inside the classroom by promoting healthy student interactions through a more robust Code of Conduct.
- Led a solid team of highly capable sales representatives in reducing customer complaints by 15% through a more proactive customer service approach.
- Improved our sales performance by 10% by launching a vigorous sales approach that reached previously untapped markets through specialized campaigns.
- Launched an intensive study on area-based vs. species-based conservation in order to identify best practices in managing protected areas in the region.
FAQs
To use synonyms for “strong” in practice, simply choose one that is able to give the clearest, most impactful picture of your traits and accomplishments.
For example, if you’re trying to describe an important contribution in sales, you would want to highlight descriptive words that show drive, perseverance, and exceptional ability in salesmanship.
Examples of such synonyms are:
• Energetic
• Energized
• Forceful
• Innovative
• Invigorated
• Masterful
• Powerful
• Resilient
Remember to provide additional details that will strengthen each sentence, such as specific metrics that you met or quantitative and qualitative proof of your accomplishment.
Other words for “strong” that you can use on a resume are the following:
• Capable
• Compelling
• Comprehensive
• Enduring
• Energetic
• Energized
• Expert
• Flourishing
• Forceful
• Fortified
• Healthy
• Impactful
• Innovative
• Interactive
• Invigorated
• Masterful
• Potent
• Powerful
• Resilient
• Robust
• Seasoned
• Solid
• Sound
• Stable
• Stalwart
• Staunch
• Sturdy
• Talented
• Tenacious
• Tough
• Vigorous
Some powerful synonyms for “strong” are:
• Compelling
• Comprehensive
• Effective
• Enduring
• Forceful
• Fortified
• Healthy
• Impactful
• Innovative
• Intensive
• Interactive
• Invigorated
• Lasting
• Masterful
• Potent
• Powerful
• Prospering
• Resilient
• Robust
• Solid
• Tenacious
You can use adjectives or synonyms for “strong” to make your resume more effective. But adjectives are not the only words you can use to replace the word “strong”.
You can also use power verbs to highlight exceptional contributions and skills. To do this, simply consider the accomplishment that you want to highlight, and choose the action word that best tells it.
For example:
Instead of saying,
I was part of a strong team of scientific experts that assessed ecotourism sites on Palawan Island.
You can say,
Led a team of environmental experts and scientists on the implementation of environmental management best practices in ecotourism sites on Palawan Island to identify issues that contributed to the decline of endemic species.
In the first sentence, the applicant gives a vague description of the team and their activities. The word “strong” to describe “scientific experts” does very little to illustrate the impact of their contribution.
In this case, it’s much better to use a powerful action word that clearly states what the contribution was so that recruiters are able to appreciate its value and the level of expertise that the applicant has in the relevant field.
The second sentence, where the applicant uses the action word “led” effectively puts a spotlight on the applicant’s role. It also effectively highlights the level of expertise and practical experience.
The best way to use the adjective “strong” in a sentence is to describe accomplishments that showcase your most relevant skills and biggest contributions.
For example, you can say:
“Created independent documentaries on political and societal issues that had a strong impact on audiences nationwide.“
But this sentence may still be improved. You can highlight relevant experiences by using more descriptive synonyms instead. The more creatively you tell your past accomplishments, the better your chances of catching recruiters’ attention.
So instead of the earlier example, you can say,
“Created independent documentaries on political and societal issues that had a powerful impact on audiences all over the world in the form of nationwide calls for reform.“
In the second example sentence, the use of the synonym “powerful” gives the sentence gravity and better describes the true effect that the documentaries had on their viewers.
Aside from using a more appropriate synonym, adding important details can also further clarify the idea that you want to convey.
Unsure whether your resume will make it to the “Yes” pile?
Use Jobscan’s resume scanner! It’s a free tool that you can use to analyze how well your resume matches any job you’re looking to land. It can also help you optimize your resume so you know what words to use, how to format your resume, and what skills to highlight.
Make your resume stand out and get noticed
Upload your resume to see what’s missing and get a free match rate.
View full results and optimize your resume
More expert insights on this topic:
