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
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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
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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
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
The Iran war is heightening concerns over a looming food crisis in Asia.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Luna also trines Mercury, further heightening our communication skills.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
By April 5, the sun will square Jupiter, heightening everything from overconfidence to emotional reactions.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
The rapid warm-up is creating the unstable atmosphere needed for supercell development, heightening the hail and severe thunderstorm risk.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Major reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin remain well below average, the agency’s latest data shows, heightening concerns about water availability across the region.
—Daniel Manzo, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Warm overnight lows in the 60s and 70s prevent body cooling, heightening risks for heat exhaustion and heatstroke among seniors, homeless individuals and those with chronic conditions.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Lower has the yeoman’s task of heightening the narrative’s frenetic unease.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 15 Mar. 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
Mary Hayes, PhD, director of research of people and performance at ADP Research, tells Fortune that many workers may believe their current skill set won’t be valuable in a handful of years, heightening that feeling of uncertainty.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
The Iran war is heightening concerns over a looming food crisis in Asia.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Luna also trines Mercury, further heightening our communication skills.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
By April 5, the sun will square Jupiter, heightening everything from overconfidence to emotional reactions.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
The rapid warm-up is creating the unstable atmosphere needed for supercell development, heightening the hail and severe thunderstorm risk.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Major reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin remain well below average, the agency’s latest data shows, heightening concerns about water availability across the region.
—Daniel Manzo, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Warm overnight lows in the 60s and 70s prevent body cooling, heightening risks for heat exhaustion and heatstroke among seniors, homeless individuals and those with chronic conditions.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Lower has the yeoman’s task of heightening the narrative’s frenetic unease.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heightening
Noun
-
The benefits include more calories burned, greater muscle strengthening, and improved endurance.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
-
What followed was not just the growth of an industry, but the strengthening of tribal self-determination.—
Cody J Martinez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The people were lodging complaints about the government's intensifying crackdown on the internet that has seen regular shutdowns of cellphone internet connections, blocked popular messaging apps and cut access to thousands of other websites and digital services.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
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Get ready to hear a lot more about El Niño during the next several months — and maybe even longer — as the infamous climate cycle returns again, developing and intensifying in the Pacific Ocean near the equator.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The city chose a more muscular solution, raising the park and lifting the river’s edge to form a wall intended to hold back sixteen feet of surge.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
If Orbán is reelected, the EU could use that funding as a bargaining chip to extract concessions such as lifting his veto of the 90 billion euros to Ukraine, Hegedűs said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At least three men were taken into custody by federal agents outside a San Bernardino County Superior Court on Thursday in what advocates are calling an alarming increase of immigration enforcement actions outside courthouses in the region.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Lawmakers agreed to lower, but not eliminate, the income tax rate while limiting increases on property tax assessments.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is reportedly in no rush to leave his temporary home, deepening frustrations for his brother, King Charles III.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Each movement revealed a little more, deepening the intrigue of what lay beneath the surface.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps the easiest way to start an argument online is to post a video of a mother raising her child.—
Micah Barkley,
Bloomberg,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Political parties were disincentivized from forming coalitions—which might have unified the anti-Orbán vote—by incrementally raising the threshold required for alliances to enter Parliament.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The pepper companion plants featured here play various roles in the garden community, enhancing pepper yields through pest reduction, weed management, and soil enhancement.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2026
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New puzzles and interactivity will be introduced to the attraction along with other additional enhancements.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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They are best suited for improving skin texture, softening fine lines and enhancing product absorption, allowing serums and treatments to penetrate more effectively.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
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Rick and Deann Bayless last year were also honored with the Sandra Cisneros Award at the museum's Gala de Arte for enhancing the appreciation of authentic Mexican food and for their support for the performing arts, the museum said.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heightening. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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