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 The Bend Education Association, which represents approximately 1,000 educators in Bend-La Pine Schools, including at Silver Rail Elementary School, emphasized the need for privacy of their community in a statement. — Irene Byon, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026 Above all, Robinson emphasized the importance of preserving shipwrecks as pieces of history. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The sources emphasized that the investigators are in the preliminary stages of their investigation. — Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Scientists liken the difference to comparing an MRI, which highlights soft tissues, with an X-ray that emphasizes skeletal structures. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emphasize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for emphasize

Verb

Moncler highlighted the trailblazing careers and unique legacies of these artists.

— Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
The video also serves as a recruitment effort, highlighting the technical work involved in building and maintaining Atlas.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of highlight

Verb

Matt Schnaars, president of platform distribution and partnerships for NBCUniversal, reinforced Shapiro’s observations in a separate session.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
The audience response has reinforced interest in experiencing independent films on the big screen and helped inform ABFF’s expansion into theatrical distribution.

— Brent Lang, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of reinforce

Verb

The 2026 edition featured a programme made up of 60% world premieres, which played out in four venues across the city, and boasted a 35% increase in admissions on 2025.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
The store houses Smythson’s full selection, and also features a dedicated bespoke stationery salon, the only one outside of London, where customers can book a one-on-one appointment with a stationery specialist.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of feature

Verb

But rushing recklessly into a plan to spend nearly $1 billion in tax revenue would underscore the narrative that the county is too rash in its spending.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Dragoi says in the here and now, the team’s results underscore the important role played by sleep, especially for trainees or those learning new skills.

— Sean Mccabe, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of underscore

Verb

Beskrestnov stressed that it is not used on Russian territory and that Starshield provides no service to Ukrainian drones used to attack oil refineries there.

— Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Jill Lindsey, an advocate for the Old National community, stressed that both resident homeowners and independent investors are taking devastating financial losses.

— La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of stress

Verb

Pierce and Kember were born in the same place on the same day, a lore-enhancing coincidence too stupid to make up.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Here will be the makings of an 85-acre live-work-play sector of the city that theoretically will seamlessly nestle into a neighborhood and enhance everything from The Crossroads Arts District to Union Station and the National WWI Museum & Memorial.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of enhance

Verb

Yet in all these success stories, Haylaz underlined that traditional entertainment companies typically create characters, build an audience and subsequently commercialize that audience through consumer products and merchandise.

— Kevin Giraud, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
The way a book has been handled, underlined, and annotated, as well as the creases in the corners of pages, are reminders of this dispute and of the reader’s assertion of ownership that will remain forever on their bookshelves.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of underline

Verb

While security is by far the most pressing priority, new projections from the IMF have revealed the war’s deepening economic toll.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Washington, for its part, is creating friction in many of its partnerships instead of deepening them, and risks squandering its network just as its adversaries are learning to make more of theirs.

— Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of emphasize

verb

Example Sentences

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