heightens

verb

present tense third-person singular of heighten
1
as in intensifies
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lifts
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 heightens So, while the Dodgers crawled out of the hole with a season-high 17 hits, the steep cost heightens the pressure on the rest of the rotation the rest of the series. — Liana Handler follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 Adult males go through musth, a periodic condition that heightens their aggression. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 Trump responded by saying their decision only heightens the importance of Congress passing the SAVE America Act, his effort to rewrite voter eligibility laws. — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 30 June 2026 The announcements come as the rapid expansion of AI data centers heightens demand for computing power, exacerbating a chip shortage. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 25 June 2026 This heightens attraction and makes relationships, artistic pursuits and pleasurable experiences powerful motivators. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026 Thus, as the business case bar for acceptable returns rises to reflect these realities as well as economic uncertainty, capital discipline heightens. — Jim Deloach, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 The exit of Casemiro, who has been influential in his fourth and final year, heightens the immediate focus, and work is being done on multiple targets so United can act quickly once the campaign ends on Sunday. — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 21 May 2026 The Pisces Moon in your 5th House of Creativity trine Jupiter heightens pleasure, confidence, and the sense that what feels joyful may also move something important forward. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heightens
  1. intensifies
  2. lifts
  3. enhances
  4. elevates
  5. deepens
  6. raises
  7. strengthens
  8. uplifts
Verb
  • Indeed, the administration’s assault on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act intensifies the damage.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • If employees are expected to produce the same output in less time without better systems in place, the pressure simply intensifies.
    — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Definition of intensifies
Verb
  • Stand at the boat ramp below the hillside at first light, and the steam lifts off the current in slow curtains while birds cut silhouettes through a sky that has no business being that beautiful.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026
  • The marketing style resonates equality across age groups and lifts purchase intent.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 13 July 2026
Definition of lifts
Verb
  • While technology enhances efficiency, only 8% of firms fully automate workflows.
    — Angelica Krystle Donati, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • That’s especially important for farmers because nitrogen fertilizers serve as a key nutrient for crops that accelerates growth and enhances yields during harvest, Sumner added.
    — Chase Hunter, Boston Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of enhances
Verb
  • The gold horsebit hardware just elevates the style that much further and makes the shoe look so much more expensive.
    — Megan Schaltegger, InStyle, 8 July 2026
  • The simplistic footwear design features a transparent TPU strap across the toes while a stiletto heel elevates the set.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 8 July 2026
Definition of elevates
Verb
  • This offers free creative variations for small businesses but deepens brands' reliance on Meta's ecosystem, making the advertising 'frame' more costly despite free images.
    — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • The aluminum venture also deepens the relationship between IHC — chaired by Abu Dhabi’s deputy ruler Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed — and billionaire Gautam Adani’s conglomerate, following IHC’s $2 billion investment in Adani companies in 2022.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of deepens
Verb
  • Analysts said the persistence of such underlying weakness also raises the question of whether Chinese officials will turn to more fiscal stimulus to try and boost domestic spending.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Diaz's go-to no-gear routine is one minute of squats, one minute of high knees, and one minute of calf raises.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 14 July 2026
Definition of raises
Verb
  • Denmark will buy two Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, giving its military a dedicated anti-submarine capability as NATO strengthens its focus on securing the Arctic and North Atlantic against growing undersea threats.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
  • But his latest novel, in its shortcomings, only strengthens the case that noir will stagnate if it isn’t perpetually refreshed by new generations.
    — Carolyn Kellogg, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Definition of strengthens
Verb
  • Show donors the real people, cultures, youth and communities their support uplifts.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Senior second baseman MaKayla Van Vossen, a DePaul recruit who returned to that position after playing shortstop earlier in the season, said Beals uplifts teammates.
    — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
Definition of uplifts

Browse Nearby Words

heightening
heightens
heights
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heightens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heightens. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on heightens

Nglish: Translation of heightens for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All