1
as in to emphasize
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
let's accentuate the saxophones during this piece by having the sax players stand up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to enhance
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
the foul weather merely accentuated my feelings of depression
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to reinforce
to make more apparent
unfortunately, the new bedspread just accentuates the dinginess of the curtains behind the bed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of accentuate
The ruched waist, accentuated with gold hardware, creates a flattering silhouette, too.
—
Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
But an accomplished quarterback does not make the quarterback the ideal fit for all systems, and there’s a belief that a system must be adjusted to accentuate the quarterback rather than taking Hurts and fitting him into your system.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Daily rituals like the evening wine reception (local pours are paired with elevated light bites) accentuate the former boarding house’s welcoming warmth.
—Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Try Galletto Ristorante’s upscale farm-to-fork Italian under a vine-arbor patio that somehow accentuates the flavors of the handmade pastas and seasonal ingredients.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accentuate
Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
But an accomplished quarterback does not make the quarterback the ideal fit for all systems, and there’s a belief that a system must be adjusted to accentuate the quarterback rather than taking Hurts and fitting him into your system.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Daily rituals like the evening wine reception (local pours are paired with elevated light bites) accentuate the former boarding house’s welcoming warmth.
—Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Try Galletto Ristorante’s upscale farm-to-fork Italian under a vine-arbor patio that somehow accentuates the flavors of the handmade pastas and seasonal ingredients.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accentuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accentuate
Verb
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Anne Arundel County police said their investigation into the incident is ongoing and emphasized that its officers do not enforce immigration law or conduct ICE operations.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
13 Jan. 2026
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Researchers emphasize that the full scope of the outbreak among elephant seals may be far greater than current numbers suggest.—
Brian Hackney,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Thermal and pressure bonding of a capping layer The research team showed that thermal and pressure bonding of a capping layer to a perovskite surface suppresses defect initiation from iodide loss and enhances long-term stability.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
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The mainframe cycle is enhancing infrastructure.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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These tubes can also reinforce polymers or metals while maintaining conductivity.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Jan. 2026
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As Morrison pointed out, representations and practices can be mutually reinforcing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This week's quiz highlights tourist tradeoffs, political personalities — and a whole lot more.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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The episode highlighted its captain, Gus Sanfilippo, who is a fifth-generation commercial fisherman.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The visits focus on loneliness and emotional distress, issues that many survivors say have intensified amid the war in Ukraine and rising antisemitism in the United States.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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Once markets started moving lower, thin liquidity intensified such price movements, according to several analysts who provided input for this article.—
Charles Lloyd Bovaird II,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Rising temperatures increase evaporation, further stressing a watershed already under pressure from growth and development.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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Researchers stress this is only an association, and the benefit may reflect overall diet patterns rather than cheese itself.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
Health,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Scott agreed that their use could, in fact, heighten risk of injury — which is exactly what happened with Bogle last season at Crewe.—
Tom Burrows,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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The significance of last weekend’s victory is heightened when considering what unfolded elsewhere in London earlier that day.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In 2013, Skakel walked out of prison as a free man and later saw his conviction vacated in a move that further deepened the mystery of who Moxley’s true killer is.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
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Gro-Low sumac performs best in full sun and tolerates partial shade, but will become less vigorous as the shade deepens.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accentuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accentuate. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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