as in increased
being at a higher level than average
there were heightened levels of lead in the drinking water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of heightened
Nbc News,
NBC news,
28 June 2026
French officials condemned the move as hostile and unfounded, while urging citizens in the West African nation to exercise heightened vigilance as reciprocal measures are considered.
—
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
Many are fearful of being out in places with heightened law enforcement or even sending their children to school.
—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
More than $1 million of that money went toward heightened security in the months after the murders, including for private security and increases to its own campus security staff, the Statesman previously reported.
—
Kevin Fixler
june 26,
Idaho Statesman,
26 June 2026
Colombia's soccer team will play Portugal on Saturday in a World Cup group stage match, returning to the stadium for the first time since that incident — this time with heightened security and multiple checkpoints.
—
ABC News,
26 June 2026
Overseas supplies also present challenges of export restrictions which can constrain production of military systems at scale during a conflict or period of heightened tension.
—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
26 June 2026
The heightened demand could explain why the FDA hasn't declared a shortage, according to drug industry experts.
—
Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
26 June 2026
The heightened enforcement comes as Sacramento County declared a local emergency over the spread of the bivalves earlier this month.
—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2026
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Venice has always been a magnet for dreamers and creatives, but in the past few years, tensions have heightened as residents grapple with the effects of the sizable unhoused population in the area.
—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
18 June 2026
While the timing has heightened public concern, investigators have not indicated any link between the crashes, and each remains under separate investigation by federal or military authorities.
—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
For some individuals, symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, disrupted sleep, anxiety, and heightened stress responses can make employment feel uncertain, especially after time away from the workforce.
—
Diane Winiarski,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent freezing of roughly $300 billion in Russian foreign assets heightened concerns about how accessible reserves held abroad would be during periods of political tension.
—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
Those concerns have been heightened by the free-spending habits of teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, who have hoovered up the most prominent free agents on the market over the past several offseasons using financial loopholes like deferred salary payments.
—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
15 June 2026
That sense of contrast was further heightened by the building’s formidable history.
—
Aditi Sharma,
Architectural Digest,
13 June 2026
Scott said the operation did not improve public safety and instead heightened anxiety among immigrant residents.
—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
11 June 2026
Adjective
Colombia’s soccer team will play Portugal today in a World Cup group stage match, returning to the stadium for the first time since that incident — this time with heightened security and multiple checkpoints.
—
Nbc News,
NBC news,
28 June 2026
French officials condemned the move as hostile and unfounded, while urging citizens in the West African nation to exercise heightened vigilance as reciprocal measures are considered.
—
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
Many are fearful of being out in places with heightened law enforcement or even sending their children to school.
—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
26 June 2026
More than $1 million of that money went toward heightened security in the months after the murders, including for private security and increases to its own campus security staff, the Statesman previously reported.
—
Kevin Fixler
june 26,
Idaho Statesman,
26 June 2026
Colombia's soccer team will play Portugal on Saturday in a World Cup group stage match, returning to the stadium for the first time since that incident — this time with heightened security and multiple checkpoints.
—
ABC News,
26 June 2026
Overseas supplies also present challenges of export restrictions which can constrain production of military systems at scale during a conflict or period of heightened tension.
—
Aditya Jadhav,
Interesting Engineering,
26 June 2026
The heightened demand could explain why the FDA hasn't declared a shortage, according to drug industry experts.
—
Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
26 June 2026
The heightened enforcement comes as Sacramento County declared a local emergency over the spread of the bivalves earlier this month.
—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2026
Verb
Exercise heightened caution during this period.
—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Venice has always been a magnet for dreamers and creatives, but in the past few years, tensions have heightened as residents grapple with the effects of the sizable unhoused population in the area.
—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
18 June 2026
While the timing has heightened public concern, investigators have not indicated any link between the crashes, and each remains under separate investigation by federal or military authorities.
—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
For some individuals, symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, disrupted sleep, anxiety, and heightened stress responses can make employment feel uncertain, especially after time away from the workforce.
—
Diane Winiarski,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent freezing of roughly $300 billion in Russian foreign assets heightened concerns about how accessible reserves held abroad would be during periods of political tension.
—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
Those concerns have been heightened by the free-spending habits of teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, who have hoovered up the most prominent free agents on the market over the past several offseasons using financial loopholes like deferred salary payments.
—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
15 June 2026
That sense of contrast was further heightened by the building’s formidable history.
—
Aditi Sharma,
Architectural Digest,
13 June 2026
Scott said the operation did not improve public safety and instead heightened anxiety among immigrant residents.
—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
11 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heightened
Adjective
-
In addition to Ebola, the New World Screwworm is making an increased appearance as well.
-
During those few seconds, monitors also observed increased levels of bromine and chlorine, which are typically found at trace levels during structural fires, the agency said.
Verb
-
Calls for his resignation intensified last month, with more than 100 Labour lawmakers publicly urging him to step aside or set out a timetable for his departure.
-
However, atmospheric drag, intensified by recent solar activity, is pulling it dangerously close to Earth, threatening its imminent burn-up.
Verb
-
Andrew Benintendi began the inning with a single and was lifted for pinch runner Luisangel Acuña.
-
Bellingham lifted his left foot to make contact with the ball, sending it to the back of the net.
Adjective
-
The kitchen, with room for a table that can handle informal dining, is open to the family room, where the visual focal points are the stone fireplace and French doors that lead to an elevated deck overlooking the in-ground pool and property at the rear of the home.
-
Sponsored by Marvin Blending clean modern lines with the warmth of a classic seaside retreat, this stunning North Shore coastal home was designed to feel both elevated and inviting.
Verb
-
My conscious connection to God has deepened.
-
In the years following 2020, cities nationwide experienced alarming increases in homicides, shootings and other crime as the COVID-19 pandemic upended daily life, destabilized local economies and deepened distrust in public institutions.
Verb
-
Led by Thiel Fellow James Proud, Substrate recently raised $100 million at a $1 billion valuation from investors including Founders Fund and General Catalyst.
-
Would Rhaenyra’s Syrax — a formidably sized dragon, albeit one raised in captivity — be able to torch them all?
Adjective
-
While wind conditions around Big Bear Lake weren't necessarily high on Friday afternoon, there were reports of strong gusts in the Lucerne Valley, where there's a main SCE line that feeds BVES the majority of its power.
-
Feels-like temperatures outside the Triad could reach as high as 112, the forecast stated.
Verb
-
The biggest camera upgrade in Fold history is coming, the screen resolution has been significantly enhanced, and Apple's iPhone Fold lands in September.
-
The movement is now antimagnetic, allowing for gold to be used on the watch’s hands, and its accuracy has been enhanced with a balance-spring and a silicon pallet-lever.
Cite this Entry
“Heightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heightened. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
