as in strengthening
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
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 heightening
Charu Sinha, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2025
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
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Sticky candies, on the other hand—like Twizzlers and Starbursts—stay on the teeth longer, heightening the risk of cavities.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Also, by overweighting the same securities through passive vehicles, investors’ holdings look like a sea of sameness, heightening systematic risk and limiting diversification.
—Mike Terwilliger, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Her personality evolves on her 13th birthday, heightening her witchy attributes.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Although regulation is heightening visibility needs, roughly a quarter (23 percent) of executives said regulatory uncertainty is holding them back.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
Both sides are signaling little willingness to compromise, heightening the risk of military miscalculation.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
January’s energy is heightening your creative side and invites a playful, loving energy into your interactions.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Composer Deantoni Parks’s score sustains and amplifies the tension, heightening the creeping pretense of water rushing forward and the punishing breathlessness of struggling back upstream.
—Anne Reeve, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
The heightening of those lines is what’s working best in this sketch, as well as Teller’s mounting dismay at what he’s being made to say.
—Charu Sinha, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2025
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
Taylor opted to go sans top beneath the jacket, heightening the commanding sensual style.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Sticky candies, on the other hand—like Twizzlers and Starbursts—stay on the teeth longer, heightening the risk of cavities.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Also, by overweighting the same securities through passive vehicles, investors’ holdings look like a sea of sameness, heightening systematic risk and limiting diversification.
—Mike Terwilliger, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Her personality evolves on her 13th birthday, heightening her witchy attributes.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Although regulation is heightening visibility needs, roughly a quarter (23 percent) of executives said regulatory uncertainty is holding them back.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 7 Oct. 2025
Both sides are signaling little willingness to compromise, heightening the risk of military miscalculation.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
January’s energy is heightening your creative side and invites a playful, loving energy into your interactions.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Composer Deantoni Parks’s score sustains and amplifies the tension, heightening the creeping pretense of water rushing forward and the punishing breathlessness of struggling back upstream.
—Anne Reeve, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heightening
Noun
-
Hence, the expansion of the distribution network is among the key pillars of the company’s strategy, along with the enhancement of the brand awareness internationally and strengthening of its offer.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The pressure continues to drop, meaning additional strengthening is possible through the day.—
George Solis,
NBC news,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This move is part of an intensifying global competition for seabed resources, with nations like the United States also vying for control.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The state has also advanced in large-scale restoration through innovative mechanisms such as restoration concessions, while intensifying actions to combat deforestation and forest fires.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
That approach may make early movements feel more controlled, like lifting a car seat or getting in and out of the driver’s side without bracing a hand on the door.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
-
This leads the pair to head to Florida over the holidays in hopes of lifting the dog’s spirits.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Hopper saw a 40% increase in air travelers, adding its Disruption Assistance feature – which allows users to instantly rebook if their flight is delayed or canceled, or get a refund – overnight following the DOT’s announcement.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Midseason blows followed, as rookie Caiya Hanks and newcomer Julie Dufour suffered anterior cruciate ligament tears, only deepening the challenge.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
-
With the climate crisis only deepening each year, throwing natural cycles and seasons into disarray, Japan is now bracing for future spikes in human-bear encounters each fall and spring.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
It is measured in the millions of students striving for opportunity—most of them raising children, working jobs, serving in uniform, or making rent and mortgage payments with other bills competing for their attention.—
Yolanda Watson Spiva,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
One person might earn more while the other contributes in different but equally meaningful ways, like managing the home, raising kids and planning for the future.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Picture books of colorful flowers and plants, as well as seed catalogs, can be wonderful sources of memory enhancement.—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The new mining vehicle features engineering enhancements designed to overcome the challenges of the seabed.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Several tech players are already constructing private energy plants for their own use as part of their data center buildouts, so there is nothing radical about Democrats insisting on tying approvals for data centers to bearing the cost of enhancing the public grid.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Gemini is also enhancing Lens in Maps.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heightening. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share