what doesn't kill you makes you stronger
wut DUZ-unt KIL yoo MAYKS yoo STRONG-er
wɒt ˈdʌznt kɪl juː meɪks juː ˈstrɒŋərListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
Dictionary meaning
a popular saying derived from Friedrich Nietzsche's aphorism Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker — from Twilight of the Idols, 1888 — asserting that surviving adversity produces strength, a claim that has become one of the most cited maxims of resilience culture in the English-speaking world; the saying was further popularised by Kelly Clarkson's 2011 hit song and has become a ubiquitous touchstone of motivational discourse; psychologically the claim is partially supported by research on post-traumatic growth showing that some people report increased personal strength, deeper relationships, and new life possibilities following trauma; however, the saying is also criticised for romanticising hardship, dismissing the lasting damage that severe trauma can cause, and implying that those who do not become stronger after adversity have somehow failed to respond correctly to their suffering
People also look up
Brayk the ice
Hit the nayl on the hed
UN-der the WETH-er
Peess of kayk
Learn one new pronunciation a day
Get a word, name or idiom like “what doesn't kill you makes you stronger” in your inbox — daily or weekly, free. Unsubscribe any time.