EMPHASIZE Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

emphasize

verb

ˈem(p)-fə-ˌsīz

Definition of emphasize

as in to highlight

to indicate the importance of by centering attention on supermarket tabloids that emphasize sensational news stories

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reinforce

to make more apparent that huge belt buckle only emphasizes his big gut

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 emphasize Throughout the conflict, India has sought to position itself as a voice for dialogue while avoiding taking sides, emphasizing themes of resilience, sustainability, cooperation and innovation. — Kyra Colah, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026 The Dolphins repeatedly have emphasized the importance of communication among their young defenders. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026 Police, fire and city officials emphasized the importance of passing onto future generations the lessons learned from the attacks. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 Chuck Hatfield, an attorney for the referendum campaign who fought state officials in court for months, emphasized that the 2022 map would be used in November. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emphasize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for emphasize

Verb

The glow of her computer occasionally caught her sharp cheekbones and bounced off her chin, highlighting the thin tattooed line that bisects it.

— Myriam Gurba, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
The neighborhood festival in October features a day of performances, speakers, artists, vendors and food that highlight the diversity of the community.

— Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of highlight

Verb

And by engaging with these powerful militaries, the group reinforced its self-image as a major regional player that was uniquely capable of liberating the Muslim world from corrupting American and Israeli influence.

— April Longley Alley, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026
That experience reinforced for me that Florida needs a clearer, more consistent process for people seeking to regain rights after completing their sentences.

— José Javier Rodríguez, Sun Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of reinforce

Verb

The 54-suite Orient Express Corinthian features five restaurants under the culinary direction of superstar chef Yannick Alléno, whose restaurants have won multiple Michelin stars, and sails the Med until autumn.

— Janice Wald Henderson, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026
Rhodes put out a heartbreaking post on social media, featuring photos of him, his wife Brandi and their children with their dog through the years.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of feature

Verb

The move also underscores just how poorly the Patriots had selected at the top of the draft before Gonzalez was picked.

— Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Last year’s terrorist attack at a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, as well as the attack on a West Bloomfield temple earlier this year, underscore the need for sustained preparedness.

— Richard Priem, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of underscore

Verb

Zelensky has previously stressed said that an acute shortage of air defense interceptors has left Ukraine vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
And getting started, Dunlap stresses, does not require becoming an expert or having a perfect financial plan.

— Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of stress

Verb

Brady Corbet’s 2024 film The Brutalist was demonized for using AI to enhance the accents of Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, and for using the tech to create architectural drawings and buildings in the style of Brody’s character, László Tóth.

— Jake Angelo, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Having your franchise player, a future Hall of Famer, ask out in such a public way is only going to enhance that view.

— James Mirtle, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of enhance

Verb

The result underlined AfD's skill in harnessing discontent with issues well beyond its core theme of curbing immigration as an unpopular national government struggles to turn around a stubbornly sluggish economy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
Nine Chinese companies selling robotic lawnmowers are targeting the EU, given China’s lack of lawns, underlining the extent to which Europe’s markets have become a destination for Chinese overcapacity.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of underline

Verb

Rather than directly monetizing the platform, Nvidia can deepen developer loyalty, make its hardware and software a natural choice for deploying AI models, and keep a strategic asset out of competitors' hands.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
And suppose, additionally, that Haidt is also right, and that—for many kids—smartphones are deepening these problems and adding new ones.

— Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of deepen

Browse Nearby Words

emphasis

emphasize

emphasized

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Emphasize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emphasize. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of emphasize

verb

Example Sentences

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