heightened; heightening
ˈhī-tᵊn-iŋ 
ˈhīt-niŋ
1
2
a
: to raise high or higher : elevate
b
: to raise above the ordinary or trite
3
obsolete
: elate
2
a
: to become great or greater in amount, degree, or extent
b
: to become brighter or more intense
Examples of heighten in a Sentence
The plan will only heighten tensions between the two groups.
This tragedy has heightened our awareness of the need for improved safety measures.
Tensions between the two groups have heightened.
Recent Examples on the Web
The day opened with news that two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota and their spouses had been shot by a man wearing a police uniform, heightening anxieties and tensions.
—
Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2025
With numerous protests planned across the country, authorities in several cities are preparing for large crowds and heightening security.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025
That can put them on edge and heighten their separation anxiety, Langan said, and if their owners are depressed or grief-stricken about loss and uncertainty, the animals absorb those emotions too.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
Though the university has emphasized that the charges against Suggs are unrelated to her role at FAMU, her arrest has only heightened concerns about leadership vetting, oversight and the larger direction of the institution — particularly within its athletics department.
—Oumou Fofana, Essence, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for heighten
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Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2025
With numerous protests planned across the country, authorities in several cities are preparing for large crowds and heightening security.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025
That can put them on edge and heighten their separation anxiety, Langan said, and if their owners are depressed or grief-stricken about loss and uncertainty, the animals absorb those emotions too.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
Though the university has emphasized that the charges against Suggs are unrelated to her role at FAMU, her arrest has only heightened concerns about leadership vetting, oversight and the larger direction of the institution — particularly within its athletics department.
—Oumou Fofana, Essence, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for heighten
Cite this Entry
“Heighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heighten. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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