EMPHASIS Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

emphasis

noun

ˈem(p)-fə-səs

Definition of emphasis

as in focus

a special notice or importance given to something a prep school with a long-established emphasis on sports

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in intensity

the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) the emphasis with which my parents issued the warning about smoking left no doubt that they were serious

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of emphasis In the food service industry, restaurants and fast-food chains are currently placing a lot of emphasis on protein. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2026 In India the election of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014 and the appointment of Narendra Modi as prime minister reportedly brought greater emphasis on India’s strategic and security posture toward China. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026 The timing comes as governments and manufacturers place greater emphasis on resilient supply chains and domestic production capabilities. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026 Nolan preserves the broad arc of Odysseus’ struggle to return home while freely reshaping what happens along the way, often shifting the emphasis from the mythological to the psychological. — Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for emphasis

Recent Examples of Synonyms for emphasis

Noun

Williams told the Observer that her primary focus was on restructuring the organization’s finances, clearing debt and improving operational health, rather than pursuing a long-term career with Opera Carolina.

— Catherine Muccigrosso July 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026
A number of reports said that Maddox, then 15, was the main focus of Pitt’s aggression on the flight.

— Martha Ross, Mercury News, 23 July 2026

Definition of focus

Noun

Thursday afternoon’s thunderstorms could pack rainfall rates up to 2 inches per hour — an intensity that can quickly overwhelm drainage systems and flood urban areas.

— Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness especially in southeastern Europe, making the region more vulnerable to health impacts and wildfires.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026

Definition of intensity

Noun

In a terrifying moment that the Torres family said caused intense stress, a lightning bolt hit their house.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026
But when stress, pollution, hormonal fluctuations, heat styling, and everyday life leave hair brittle, dull, and prone to breakage, there’s only so much a topical treatment can do.

— Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 27 July 2026

Definition of stress

Noun

If Yesavage can maintain that aggressiveness over the rest of the season, the Jays won’t have to worry about their funky righty.

— Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Cannon breaks down the accountability, aggressiveness and the perspective needed to play effective defense after the team’s reset week.

— John W. Davis, Oc Register, 5 July 2026

Definition of aggressiveness

Noun

Magnesium, on the other hand, shows much more potential, with the same quantity of water containing 2,980 kg (6,570 lb) of the element, roughly the weight of a 2024 Ford F-250 Super Duty Cargo Truck … so, a lot.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 July 2026
Black Americans have been feeling the weight of this political climate for years now, not as a single blow, but as one thing after another.

— Melissa S. Johnson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2026

Definition of weight

Browse Nearby Words

emphases

emphasis

emphasize

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Emphasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emphasis. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of emphasis

noun

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