1
as in to intensify
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
several controversial measures have heightened parental awareness of the impact of school policy decisions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to lift
to move from a lower to a higher place or position
heightened the hem on her skirt just a couple of inches
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heighten
What’s heightening the crisis is that stopgaps typically used to offset supply shocks have been rendered moot.
—
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Exercise heightened caution during this period.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026
The World Health Organization has emphasized that while cholera is preventable and treatable, a global surge in cases has strained the supply of oral cholera vaccines and heightened the need for diversified treatment strategies.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Major reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin remain well below average, the agency’s latest data shows, heightening concerns about water availability across the region.
—Dan Peck, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heighten
Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Exercise heightened caution during this period.
—Southern California Weather Report, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026
The World Health Organization has emphasized that while cholera is preventable and treatable, a global surge in cases has strained the supply of oral cholera vaccines and heightened the need for diversified treatment strategies.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Major reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin remain well below average, the agency’s latest data shows, heightening concerns about water availability across the region.
—Dan Peck, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for heighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heighten
Verb
-
Rumours of a temporary switch to Girona intensified in the Spanish media.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Disagreements with the board are a routine part of C-suite life, but the transformative potential of AI—and the speed at which successful companies are moving from experimentation to application—has intensified the pressure significantly.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hired by Hornets co-owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin in April 2024 to bring the franchise out of its decade-long doldrum, and joined at the hip with coach Charles Lee, Peterson has quickly lifted the Hornets to respectability, pushing Charlotte among the NBA’s rising teams.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
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Andrés Giménez chased after one above the zone, lifting a shallow fly ball that Teoscar Hernández could corral without allowing a run to score.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Barco notes that Lightsteering redistributes existing light instead of demand- ing more, enhancing contrast and brightness without consuming more energy (and adding to energy bills).—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Or, for your next airport outfit, opt for a drapey button-down, buttery-soft joggers, and a roomy crossbody bag that keeps your essentials close while elevating your entire look.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
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Space agency officials’ blood pressure was further elevated as experts closely watched the performance of the craft’s heat shield, which astronauts rely on to slow them down and keep temperatures livable.—
Noah Haggerty,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Haiti, the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere, has been hit the hardest by rising oil prices that experts warn will deepen a spiraling humanitarian crisis.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The appointment comes as Rapha continues to expand its global community of riders and Rapha Cycling Club (RCC) members and deepen its presence in competitive cycling.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps the easiest way to start an argument online is to post a video of a mother raising her child.—
Micah Barkley,
Bloomberg,
10 Apr. 2026
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Political parties were disincentivized from forming coalitions—which might have unified the anti-Orbán vote—by incrementally raising the threshold required for alliances to enter Parliament.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Zelenskyy didn't identify the countries involved but said Ukrainian personnel operated across several nations, helping strengthen their air defense systems.—
Brian Dakss,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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If activity strengthens unexpectedly, the glow could extend farther south into states such as Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire, though the best chances remain closer to the Canadian border.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Your 11th House of Community gains drive as ambitious Mars enters, energizing ongoing collaborations while uplifting hope for what comes next.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Guys were encouraging one another and uplifting one another.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heighten. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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