heightening 1 of 2

heightening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of heighten

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
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
Like its predecessor 30 Rock, that constant patter defines the show’s tone by heightening its world into near absurdity, all while remaining grounded in the emotional realities of its characters. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 June 2026 The president, who has repeatedly described himself as a Knicks fan, had attended Game 3, prompting heightening security concerns and extra security measures for attendees. Mark Morales, CNN Money, 18 June 2026 Aries is pioneering, courageous and impatient to start something, while Neptune dissolves the boundaries between the physical and spiritual, heightening our sensitivity and connection to the divine. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026 The gameplay will feel smooth and tactile, heightening your immersion. George Yang, PC Magazine, 11 June 2026 Tones of silver as well as green and red added further contrast to the tone of the dress while heightening the whimsical aesthetic. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 June 2026 Today's top stories Israel and Iran committed yesterday to stop attacking each other, just hours after exchanging missile fire and heightening tensions across the Middle East. Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 June 2026 Tensions between Iran and Israel have been heightening over Lebanon, said Maziar Motamedi at Al Jazeera. The Week Uk, TheWeek, 8 June 2026 Many successful activists, however, have achieved their goals by heightening the contrast between words and weapons. Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heightening
Noun
  • The strengthening of El Niño and record-high worldwide ocean temperatures could be amplifying the heat, too.
    Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • Behind that score is a gradual strengthening of national cyber systems.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • That was despite intensifying heat that Cage and the communications team would make a point of emphasizing on-site and in messaging.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026
  • Airbnb is intensifying its fight against disruptive parties, particularly for holidays like July 4th, employing advanced technology to block high-risk bookings.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Rookie Jacob Gonzalez delivered a walk-off single in the ninth inning, lifting the Sox to a 2-1 victory against the Royals in front of 28,569 at Rate Field.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
  • South Florida’s task forces won’t just be bringing manpower, but also equipment for breaching, lifting and supporting structures in collapsed zones.
    Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • Earthquakes are measured by magnitude on a logarithmic scale — so each whole number increase translates to 32 times more energy released by the quake.
    Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 27 June 2026
  • Economists have warned the increase in tax revenue is temporary and note persistent gaps between spending and revenue.
    Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Without a unified, clean, and accessible data structure, AI outputs quickly become ambiguous, hallucinated, and diluted, deepening the clarity crisis rather than resolving it.
    Ali Hoss, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • State Street granted Saudi fund administration license State Street has secured a fund administration license in Saudi Arabia, thereby deepening the presence of one of the world’s biggest custodian banks in the kingdom.
    Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The way the loss came about should be raising alarm bells inside the US camp.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Forming partnerships with like-minded organizations is critical to raising brand awareness, accessing new markets and multiplying impact.
    Rochelle Haynes, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • The court likewise declined to apply a sentencing enhancement based upon patient harm.
    Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Earlier this year, Senate Republicans proposed allocating $1 billion in taxpayer dollars from legislation meant to fund immigration enforcement agencies for security enhancements for the ballroom.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The product was first developed by a French company Sederma, as a non-hormonal, bust-enhancing ingredient.
    Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • Today’s glow-enhancing products are far more sophisticated than the streaky, orange self-tanners that once dominated bathroom counters and beach vacations.
    Kate Donnelly, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Heightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heightening. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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