as in strengthening
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1
as in intensifying
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 lifting
to move from a lower to a higher place or position
heightened the hem on her skirt just a couple of inches
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heightening
James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Lighting designer Esquire Jauchem softens and brightens above and around the ever-moving Rubinstein as topics and memories call for the heightening and muting of the president’s feelings and emotions.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
Just a day later, Neptune retrograde shifts into Pisces, heightening intuition and deepening emotional awareness with entirely new depth.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 21 Feb. 2026
Federal regulators said manufacturing defects in certain models of these cars could cause the engine to lose power while in use, heightening risks of a crash.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
But even should the talks prove a failure, the effort to dampen the confrontational responses and heightening tensions would still be valuable in reducing the possibility of regional conflict.
—Nina Srinivasan Rathbun, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2026
Other artists have tried to tackle this melodrama by grounding us in specific characters’ perspectives, or by heightening the performances, but Fennell embraces the story’s fundamental absurdism by giving us absurd and often glorious images.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
On Monday, around 100 community members rallied in downtown San Jose to protest the possibility of ICE agents heightening their anti-immigration campaign during the big game.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
The intuitive Moon moves through your 9th House of Travel, heightening the longing to explore ideas that restore hope and widen your world.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
In October 2024, the union passed a resolution calling for the United States to stop providing weapons to Israel, heightening tensions between the union and Jewish organizations and teachers who oppose its anti-Israel advocacy.
—Larry Sand, Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
What Anthropic unveiled Thursday might spell yet more trouble for those older software companies, further heightening market anxiety.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
It all sticks — every Dutch angle, inventively silly camera placement, and enthusiastic heightening of high-noon suspense.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Lighting designer Esquire Jauchem softens and brightens above and around the ever-moving Rubinstein as topics and memories call for the heightening and muting of the president’s feelings and emotions.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
Just a day later, Neptune retrograde shifts into Pisces, heightening intuition and deepening emotional awareness with entirely new depth.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
Here’s what the last flight was like American Airlines had struggled to recover, drawing harsh criticism from flight crews, some of whom were stranded and had to sleep at airports, heightening tension between frontline employees and the company’s CEO, Robert Isom.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 21 Feb. 2026
Federal regulators said manufacturing defects in certain models of these cars could cause the engine to lose power while in use, heightening risks of a crash.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
But even should the talks prove a failure, the effort to dampen the confrontational responses and heightening tensions would still be valuable in reducing the possibility of regional conflict.
—Nina Srinivasan Rathbun, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2026
Other artists have tried to tackle this melodrama by grounding us in specific characters’ perspectives, or by heightening the performances, but Fennell embraces the story’s fundamental absurdism by giving us absurd and often glorious images.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
On Monday, around 100 community members rallied in downtown San Jose to protest the possibility of ICE agents heightening their anti-immigration campaign during the big game.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2026
The intuitive Moon moves through your 9th House of Travel, heightening the longing to explore ideas that restore hope and widen your world.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
In October 2024, the union passed a resolution calling for the United States to stop providing weapons to Israel, heightening tensions between the union and Jewish organizations and teachers who oppose its anti-Israel advocacy.
—Larry Sand, Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
What Anthropic unveiled Thursday might spell yet more trouble for those older software companies, further heightening market anxiety.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heightening
Noun
-
Western scalp treatments often rely on stronger, single-minded actives (think minoxidil or high-dose exfoliants) aimed at correcting a problem quickly, while Korean formulas take a more holistic, long-game approach, combining soothing, strengthening, and circulation-stimulating ingredients.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
24 Feb. 2026
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Rosemary oil—one of the key ingredients in the mask—is like hair-growth gold, but ceramides, jojoba, and keratin are also present in the strengthening and thickening formula.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The New Terms As the physical retail landscape transforms, the battle for the Kingdom’s digital consumer is intensifying too.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The White House has flexed its muscles across the Caribbean in recent months, capturing the president of Venezuela, intensifying an embargo on Cuba, and striking alleged drug-trafficking vessels.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kawhi Leonard paced the Clippers’ dominant performance with 23 points, lifting Los Angeles past the Pelicans 137-117 to end a three-game slide.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Temperatures will warm into the 40s and 50s slowly through midweek with the jet stream lifting farther north.—
Adam Del Rosso,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Vector control districts in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties have confirmed a significant increase in mosquito activity, which is highly unusual for this time of the year.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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Both were part of RTD’s FasTracks project, approved by voters in 2004 on the understanding that revenues from a sales tax increase would fund eventual extension of the G Line to Golden and the B Line to Boulder and Longmont.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Indeed, the companies’ deepening relationship points to confidence that smart glasses can be a goldmine and any differences can be worked out.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
His latest proposal would involve deepening ties between the European Union and the CPTPP, a Pacific trade organization.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While more than one-third of that backlog is now being released, a handful of states — including California, Illinois, Minnesota and Colorado — are being left out, raising new concerns that the administration is playing politics with critical emergency assistance, the sources said.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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Melissa Claire Egan is opening up about some sobering health news in hopes of raising awareness.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Under the proposal, the city would create three safety enhancement zones — two surrounding Willow and Slide Hill parks and a third encompassing much of downtown Davis.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Jacob Francisallen Clare pleaded guilty to kidnapping from outside California and deprivation of child custody with a sentencing enhancement for kidnapping a child younger than 14, all felonies.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Several popular peptides work by enhancing the body’s response to growth hormone, which doctors say could have an unintended consequence of promoting tumor growth.—
Dominique Mosbergen,
Time,
24 Feb. 2026
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Federal and state officials have a unique opportunity to find solutions for many of today’s most prominent issues such as creating jobs, ensuring affordable and reliable energy for consumers, and enhancing our national security.—
Edward Cross,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heightening. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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