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

As promised, Doyle had Lamar Jackson under center on early downs at a heightened rate. — Mike Sando, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Counterintuitively, this decrease in nerve fibers in the skin can lead to heightened pain in many patients. — Andrew Bubak, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026

The election will be held against the backdrop of heightened political tensions as the governing populists seek to remain in office despite widespread popular discontent. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Ukrainians already face a winter blighted by heightened attacks on heating and food supplies. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

The heightened presence combined with the absence of street lights on multiple blocks throughout the neighborhood − including the one where both shooting incidents occurred − has left Taylor on edge. — April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Affleck is clearly trying for something closer to poetry here, hoping the film’s visual splendor and its heightened dialogue would convey profundity. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

Keep looking for new spots, especially smaller meadows that have more timber close by, giving spooky animals a heightened sense of security. — Jim Zumbo, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2026

Thanks to their intensely loyal — and often vocal — fan bases, that rivalry has been carried into their WNBA careers, where every matchup and interaction invites heightened scrutiny, especially online. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Verb

Cash-rich mega-cap tech firms remain relatively insulated, whereas data centers, AI infrastructure projects, and early-stage startups that rely heavily on continuous external funding face significantly heightened financial strain. — CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

Speculation over possible changes to this year’s Qatar and Abu Dhabi races heightened this week as Formula 2, which is due to support F1 in both venues, added an extra race to its schedule next week in Azerbaijan. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Sandra may be the only professional actress, but April and Diane are equally dramatic — and if Paulson, Watts and Wiest’s performances seem consequently heightened, that’s by design. — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced Tuesday that the country is reinforcing security at its border with Ukraine after Russian drone strikes near crossings heightened concerns among NATO allies. — Arina Porkhovnik, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026

The two incidents have heightened concerns among some residents living amid the neighborhood's ongoing construction boom. — Manuel Bojorquez, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026

This event, which resulted in the death of enslaver Edward Gorsuch, heightened tensions between the North and South and was one of the many precursors to the American Civil War. — Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Safety concerns around technology have also heightened as companies double down on advancing artificial intelligence. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Travel warnings have been heightened for Americans traveling in the Middle East. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026