heightened; heightening
ˈhī-tᵊn-iŋ 
ˈhīt-niŋ
1
a
: to increase the amount or degree of : augment
heighten interest in the book
heighten tensions in the region
b
: to make brighter or more intense : deepen
… slowly rubbing the gold piece … as if to heighten its lustre …—
Herman Melville
Herman Melville
c
: to bring out more strongly : point up
… uses the camera to punctuate and heighten the story.—Stacey Bell
Stacey Bell
d
: to make more acute : sharpen
heighten the contrast on a monitor
2
a
: to raise high or higher : elevate
b
: to raise above the ordinary or trite
heightened prose
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
Bears have killed a record 13 people in Japan this year and injured more than 200 others, while reports of the creatures roaming near schools and rampaging in supermarkets have heightened anxiety, especially in rural northern regions.
—CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Weak militias, overstretched armies, and limited external support heighten the risk of political destabilization, territorial fragmentation, and a potential domino effect across the region.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Pandemic-era school disruption, the rise of social media, and heightened political tension have all collided during their formative years—leaving many struggling with focus, stress, and mental health challenges.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025
But for families battling cancer, the holidays can heighten financial strain, deepen emotional stress and magnify the daily challenges that come with treatment.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heighten
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CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
Weak militias, overstretched armies, and limited external support heighten the risk of political destabilization, territorial fragmentation, and a potential domino effect across the region.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Pandemic-era school disruption, the rise of social media, and heightened political tension have all collided during their formative years—leaving many struggling with focus, stress, and mental health challenges.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025
But for families battling cancer, the holidays can heighten financial strain, deepen emotional stress and magnify the daily challenges that come with treatment.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Dec. 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 14 Dec. 2025.
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