heightens

Definition of heightensnext
present tense third-person singular 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 heightens Warrior Mars in your sign fires up thoughts about your identity — and simultaneously heightens your initiative. Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026 This uncertainty heightens individual anxiety and that in turn manifests in a diminished personal sense of well being. Dr. Howard A. Selinger, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026 Sometimes these shifts are small, noticeable only to the character experiencing them, as when an impending hurricane heightens the narrator’s receptivity to the minor mysteries of humble objects. Hannah Gold, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 And casting Sarah Michelle in that part heightens all of that. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 Mar. 2026 The trick, and what makes the show special, is that the absurdity somehow heightens the very real, very consequential reporting at its core. Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026 This approach echoes the idea of compression and release in architecture, where a smaller or more intimate space heightens the experience of moving into a larger room. Angelika Pokovba, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026 Set in London and Spain, the story unfolds across six episodes — Wright directed the first three — and cleverly heightens the tensions sometimes experienced in in-law relationships. Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026 Inflation The war only heightens the importance of the upcoming inflation data. Sarah Min, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heightens
Verb
  • Venus and Pluto’s clash intensifies a one-sided attraction.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Researchers have long recognized that climate change intensifies heat waves.
    Evan Bush, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Owning even a few hours of exclusive Masters coverage lifts the value of Prime Video’s entire sports portfolio.
    Alex Sherman, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Hysterical strength is when people exhibit superhuman abilities during life-and-death circumstances, and the most common example is when a mother lifts a car to rescue her child.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • And here is a helpful tip — a teaspoon of honey enhances the flavors splendidly.
    Ed Silverman, STAT, 7 Apr. 2026
  • The team also highlighted that the technology enhances robotic hands’ capabilities in delicate manipulation tasks and paving the way for further advancements in humanoid dexterous hand development.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That, in turn, elevates the risk of facing collection issues, but not every borrower is equally vulnerable.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Barroom darts may be familiar territory, but Flight Club Denver elevates the pastime into a sleek, high-tech experience set in a space that feels like a British pub meets a Victorian fairground.
    Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • As Jason’s obsession with the Box deepens, Daniela’s (Connelly) growing paranoia pushes her to the brink, threatening to tear their fragile stability apart.
    Kennedy French, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026
  • To see her personal memories rescued, returned and celebrated by strangers on the internet only deepens what this moment represents.
    Ryan Brennan April 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Their union, which raises money for scholarship programs, and sick and wounded police officers, has cut ties with their outside fundraising vendor TCI America.
    Juli McDonald, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Unions and district remain apart on salary increases, with teachers seeking 17% raises and Local 99 workers — some of the lowest-paid — also wanting stability.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Murphy made a similar assertion in his Wednesday ruling, also claiming that the Supreme Court not immediately lifting the blocks on ending TPS for Haiti and Syria before justices hear those arguments strengthens his ruling.
    Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Rounds of showers and thunderstorms will move throughout Hawaiiuntil Thursday morning but will pick up intensity on Thursday afternoon as the Kona storm strengthens.
    Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Curiosity and discipline pair up as the exuberant Sun uplifts accountable Saturn in your 9th House of Observation, asking for purposeful exploration today.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
  • As clever Mercury uplifts Mars in your 10th House of Professionality, the universe clears space for you to pitch ideas, request resources, or lead a project.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Heightens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heightens. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.

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