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 litigation began a decade ago amid heightened concern over the cost of prescription medicines, including some generics. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 15 July 2026

Under the proposal, the fences will have entrances that can be open or closed, with the ability to restrict pedestrian access should the Secret Service determine heightened security measures are necessary. — Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 July 2026

However, heightened winds expected by late Wednesday over many interior mountains, including in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, will probably elevate fire conditions and could fuel rapid fire growth if one starts, Cohen said. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Local advocates issued a community advisory warning Kansas Citians of heightened immigration enforcement in the area in recent weeks. — Emily Harter, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

People use all caps to indicate heightened emotion and avoid the formality of proper punctuation, which now seems stilted, even stern. — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Stock prices fell in response to the heightened tensions and rising oil prices. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 8 July 2026

These features are increasingly valuable in an era of heightened transparency and legal exposure. — Michael Gold Cfp, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

So instead of a clear path forward at a time of heightened uncertainty, Xbox has a vague and seemingly unattainable goal in front of it. — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 7 July 2026

Verb

That enabled Villa to step up their existing interest, which was heightened by the loss of Onana to a knee ligament injury and then Manchester United activating the £35m release clause to sign Youri Tielemans. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Forecasters warn of 95- to 110-degree temperatures in valleys such as Woodland Hills and Antelope Valley, with warm nights, high humidity and heightened risk of heat illness for vulnerable residents. — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

The critical animus was heightened in the late eighties by the AIDS crisis, when many in the art world felt that the Reagan Administration had turned its back on what was happening. — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Due to flooding risks heightened by the Claremont Fire’s burn scar, the National Weather Service is closely monitoring conditions of the Freestone Creek Basin near the Military Reserve. — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 13 July 2026

That heightened competitive pressure is also reshaping the CFO role. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 13 July 2026

Those risks are heightened in the metropolitan area, given state laws in Kansas and Missouri surrounding local agencies’ abilities to assist with immigration enforcement. — Sofi Zeman july 8, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026

Security around the prison has been heightened with additional army troops and armed tanks also being deployed. — ABC News, 7 July 2026

Michigan’s 1835 bid for statehood heightened IRL tensions between Toledo residents—who largely identified as Ohioans—and Michiganders, who intended to claim the territory. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026