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
Combative shades of red and black created a lava motif on the dress, further accentuated by O’Connor’s makeup and hair.
—
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 26 Feb. 2026
To accentuate that point, White referenced a famous Disney movie about the power of self-belief.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
Add white SunPatiens to accentuate the existing palette or vibrant-toned coleus to tease out the purple-red veins in the heucherella.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
Rarely do these pieces directly echo the two men’s interpersonal drama, but the information adds context to the actors’ enchanting movements, which are backed by gorgeous outfits and striking set design that accentuate the mythical tales being played out.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accentuate
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 26 Feb. 2026
To accentuate that point, White referenced a famous Disney movie about the power of self-belief.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
Add white SunPatiens to accentuate the existing palette or vibrant-toned coleus to tease out the purple-red veins in the heucherella.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
Rarely do these pieces directly echo the two men’s interpersonal drama, but the information adds context to the actors’ enchanting movements, which are backed by gorgeous outfits and striking set design that accentuate the mythical tales being played out.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for accentuate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accentuate
Verb
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Your 6th House of Practice and your 10th House of Work alike benefit as Mercury trines Jupiter, emphasizing the power of simple routines.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
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Jackson’s allies have emphasized the forcefulness of his message and convictions.—
Matt Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With a fleet of 11 classic, mid-sized ships that traverse the globe, this cruise line builds upon its 150 years of maritime heritage with award-winning service, exceptional dining, and loads of activities and enrichment programs that enhance its more than 500 annual sailings.—
Susan B. Barnes,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
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According to the team, the greatest power losses happen because the dust enhances the presence and reflectance of cirrus clouds, reducing how much radiation that reaches solar panels.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Schools, mosques, workplaces and media all became part of an ideological ecosystem designed to reinforce loyalty to the regime.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
7 Mar. 2026
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For many neighbors, the incident has reinforced long-standing concerns about the warehouse's proximity to family residences.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At Kakō and Saki, guests feast on seasonal Japanese ingredients highlighting traditional and modern techniques.—
Lois Alter Mark,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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Each has been highlighted by House Majority PAC, a Democratic outside group, in recent days.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Iran war intensified as Washington and Tehran focused their attention on the Strait of Hormuz and showed little sign of easing their aerial campaigns.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
11 Mar. 2026
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Benoit Tessier | Reuters LONDON — European stocks are expected to open lower on Wednesday, as traders monitor intensifying operations in the Middle East.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Altman stresses human oversight and legal protections After the company signed the agreement last week, Altman explained that the contract incorporates protections similar to those that were a point of contention in Anthropic’s negotiations.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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Still, Billy stressed the importance of the French film financing mechanism, which is essentially funded by a levy on movie tickets, for helping sustain France’s position as one of the world’s most prolific filmmaking nations.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Block’s move heightened concerns about how AI could further upend an already weak labor market; however, there are further dynamics at play, said Andy Challenger, chief revenue officer at Challenger, Gray & Christmas.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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After all, when placed on a marquee, this punctuation mark signifies that a film will contain an exceptional array of excitement, thrills, and shock, heightening our expectations — as well as our disappointment when (as often happens) the hype isn’t delivered.—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Less than a mile away, the corps is planning to deepen and widen the shipping channel leading into Port Everglades, blasting through the reef line and dredging up sediment that could smother acres of surrounding coral, according to federal scientists.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
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However, consumer advocates argued the agreement held the line on even higher increases and halted further policy cancellations that have deepened a crisis in the state’s insurance industry.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Accentuate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accentuate. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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