HEIGHTEN Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

heighten

verb

ˈhī-tᵊn

Definition of heighten

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

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

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 heighten The promise of transparency may heighten disbelief where decisions are opaque. — Jon Michail, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026 Volatile, headstrong, and brimming with wild-eyed passive-aggression, the actor’s performance heightens the wall situation from a neighborly dispute to the stuff of a biblical trial. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026 That generally means lower interest rates but also heightened risk. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 His persistent claims raised sovereignty concerns and pushback from Greenlandic and Danish leaders and heightened tensions among NATO allies. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heighten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heighten

Verb

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned Sunday that Moscow appears poised to intensify its campaign against Ukraine's borders with European countries.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
European leaders convene in Finland’s Arctic capital as melting ice opens new shipping lanes and resource frontiers, intensifying Russian military activity and exposing doubts about NATO’s long-term role in regional security.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of intensify

Verb

But the sour mood that numerous surveys and polls have found about the state of the city does not appear to have magically lifted.

— Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
And votes from Democrats, who are likely to balk at any major cuts to spending programs frequently targeted by Republicans, would be required to lift debt ceiling legislation over the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate.

— Garrett Downs, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of lift

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

Tariffs may still be elevating some costs, such as appliances, which jumped in price last month.

— DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFFFROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
And lawmakers from states newer to the early-primary lineup are already preparing to elevate what matters to their constituents, as they get wooed by presidential aspirants.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of elevate

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

Verb

The volume of the excellent eclectic soundtrack raises the energy level even higher.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
The suit says La Strada twice raised concerns with Hoskins, but his Capitol security badge then was deactivated before a hearing in the case and he was fired effective May 1.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of raise

Verb

Graphite is a key battery material, and securing alternative sources and production methods is part of efforts to strengthen US battery supply chains.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
As students return to classrooms and campuses, communications leaders should use this moment to review the plan, rehearse it and strengthen their crisis communications plans.

— Kimberly Osborne, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of strengthen

Verb

Amid Quannah’s accomplishments, her most important work is using her platform to uphold and uplift her Indigenous values and peoples.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026
From career milestones to new releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music.

— Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of uplift

Browse Nearby Words

height

heighten

heightened

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Heighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heighten. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of heighten

verb

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