Synonyms of heightened

heightened 1 of 2

adjective

as in increased

being at a higher level than average

there were heightened levels of lead in the drinking water

Synonyms & Similar Words

• increased
• elevated
• high
• raised
• up
• escalated
• extreme
• maximum
• jacked (up)
• peaked
• utmost
• inflated
• over
• maximized
• sky-high
• full
• overloaded
• overflowing
• oversize
• overfilled
• overlarge
• overfull

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• low
• down
• decreased
• dropped
• under
• depressed
• receded
• knockdown

heightened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of heighten

1

as in intensified

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

• intensified
• deepened
• enhanced
• strengthened
• consolidated
• reinforced
• accentuated
• amplified
• boosted
• sharpened
• broadened
• stepped up
• magnified
• expanded
• redoubled
• augmented
• emphasized
• extended
• beefed (up)
• accelerated
• lengthened
• enforced
• amped (up)
• supplemented
• enlarged
• pointed (up)
• quickened
• maximized
• exacerbated
• stressed
• hastened
• enlivened
• aggravated
• restrengthened
• jazzed (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reduced
• decreased
• diminished
• abated
• lessened
• weakened
• moderated
• subdued
• subsided
• receded
• waned
• dwindled
• tapered (off)
• alleviated
• eased
• lightened
• toned (down)
• let up (on)

2

as in lifted

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

• lifted
• elevated
• raised
• uplifted
• boosted
• hoisted
• upheld
• hiked
• upped
• heaved
• took up
• picked up
• mounted
• rose
• perked (up)
• jacked (up)
• upraised
• craned
• ascended
• hefted
• reared
• upended

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lowered
• dropped
• fell
• slipped
• pushed
• descended
• bore
• pressed
• plunged
• depressed
• dipped
• pitched
• sank
• submerged

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of heightened

Adjective

The string of work stoppages reflects heightened scrutiny of one of New York City’s primary housing strategies. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

Executives remain in a heightened state due to being the ultimate problem-solvers and the internal struggle of cognitive dissonance, where their minds constantly resolve mismatches between beliefs and actions. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Cyprus is also a nexus point for heightened tensions between Turkey and Israel, which eyes Turkish military installations on Cyprus with suspicion. — ABC News, 29 July 2026

If James’ defection seems destined to peel casual NBA viewers away from the Lake Show, the subsequent heightened interest for the teams repping the I-95 megalopolis should go a long way toward helping shore up the league’s national deliveries. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 July 2026

Beltway reporters, pundits, and government officials at the Waldorf Astoria hotel noticed heightened security and a smaller crowd in the room at Friday night’s WHCA Dinner. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2026

Wildes argued that the heightened political tensions would not deter the Jewish community's connection to Israel or New York City. — Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026

The event comes as the Secret Service warns about a heightened threat environment. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 24 July 2026

The card also earns heightened rewards on flights and hotels booked direct – with the ability to transfer rewards to partners – whereas the Robinhood Platinum requires you to book through a portal. — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 23 July 2026

Verb

Investor concerns were also heightened by the strong stock market debut of Chinese memory chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies, some analysts say. — ABC News, 29 July 2026

The sweltering weather heightened worries about the survivors as rescuers braved the heat. — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

Shannon said mosquito activity is heightened this summer throughout California. — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 29 July 2026

Certainly, your feelings are heightened and your focus on partners and close friends is stronger. — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 29 July 2026

Washington — The Federal Reserve has remained mum about interest rates as inflation concerns have heightened, leading to confusion about the state of the US economy. — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 27 July 2026

Ever since Anthropic announced Mythos had discovered thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities in major operating systems and web browsers in April, anxieties over the dangers of next-generation AI models have been heightened. — Tim Keary, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Its irregularities, grooves, nicks, and pockmarks heightened, rather than disturbed, the tranquillity of the space. — Literary Hub, 22 July 2026

While Adams’ blouse added a sensual touch with its semi-sheer fabric, her skirt heightened the effect. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 July 2026