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 moves came amid heightened expectation that the Fed will approve another rate hike in October. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026

With the program's loss, millions now face a heightened risk of GLOFs, which can release millions of cubic meters of water and debris in just a few hours. — ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026

The incident comes amid record ICE arrests and heightened scrutiny of federal officers, with Austin’s mayor urging local police to help investigate. — Anna Wilder, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

In addition to the heightened abstract threat level, there continue to be intense pro-Palestinian protests as well as corresponding agitation on social media. — Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

As the duo bond over the absurd logistics of their lethal hobby and evade detection, the series uses its heightened premise to deliver a hilarious, deeply relatable exploration of female friendship and unconditional loyalty. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026

The movie is notable for its thoughtful approach to themes more often explored via heightened emotions. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

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

Verb

Over its 1,200 pages, the novel becomes a haunting of a haunting, a terror echoed and heightened over time. — Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026

Heavy, uninterrupted nicotine ingestion can trigger blood pressure spikes, elevated heart rates, sleep disruption and heightened anxiety. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

The privacy concerns were heightened by a 2025 incident in which hackers stole government IDs of 70,000 Discord users from a third-party service that Discord used to verify ages in the UK and Australia. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026

Instead, the settlement has split Hollywood and heightened anxiety over the entertainment industry’s future. — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2026

Behind the scenes, former Pentagon officials described a rush to strike the deals that raised concerns about due diligence, which were heightened when a deal with rare earths startup Reelement faltered. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Whether these stories are fictional or heightened for comic effect is irrelevant; Simmons-Patterson’s conversational delivery and sly smile are so magnetic that audiences want to spend time in his universe either way. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

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

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