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

Andreas Hauskrecht, a clinical professor of business economics at Indiana University, flagged heightened energy prices as a concern for months to come, as much of those higher costs could filter through other areas of the economy. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

The departures have come during heightened tensions over immigration in South Africa. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

If things start to look like an actual slowdown of AI is going to be imposed, there will be a heightened frenzy to beat the deadline and proceed with tremendous haste. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Jennifer Stone credited her work as an ER nurse with keeping her grounded after growing up in the heightened world of Disney Channel fame. — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Hubei authorities have issued a yellow warning for cities including Xiangyang, Huanggang and Suizhou, citing a heightened risk of flooding and landslides. — Reuters, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026

Dangerously hot temperatures, dry conditions, and severe thunderstorms are expected to sweep across much of the United States this week, sparking heightened risk of wildfires and flash flooding in some regions, according to meteorologists. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026

The hosts are still getting used to receiving a heightened level of attention, to being idolized by both the general nerd and Black nerd communities. — Daniel Strauss, Vanity Fair, 10 Aug. 2026

The heightened risk of losing visa-free access to the EU bloc comes after Dominica already lost Britain’s visa-free access. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2026

Verb

Deadly attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman heightened concerns over risks to global shipping routes and sent global oil prices higher to around $90 per barrel on Wednesday. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026

The risks are heightened for women of color, according to the most recent maternal mortality data from the March of Dimes and the CDC. — Kristin Wright, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026

Growing tensions with Washington have heightened Beijing’s anxieties. — Caitlin Welsh, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026

The recent incidents, however, have heightened calls for a slowdown. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026

When asked to name a passion that has heightened with age, Shatner cites staying alive. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026

The hot slap of her rebellion was heightened by the gulf in the social positions of the two men from whom her bloodline sprang. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026

While every other Hughes film is grounded in ordinary everyday experiences only slightly heightened for comedic effect, Weird Science stands apart as his big cartoonish swing at a high concept sci-fi comedy. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026

El Confidencial said the concern was heightened by Ceuta’s proximity to Fnideq, also known as Castillejos, a Moroccan border town that has figured in previous jihadist recruitment investigations. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026