INTENSIFY Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

intensify

verb

in-ˈten(t)-sə-ˌfī

Definition of intensify

as in to deepen

to make markedly greater in measure or degree intensified her efforts to preserve the town's historic buildings and landmarks

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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 intensify Fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 linked to MCAS software, a 2024 door plug blowout caused by missing factory bolts, and a fatal 2025 Air India 787 crash have intensified global regulatory focus. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026 Pressure to address the conditions in the juvenile jails intensified this summer after a June 21 violent clash at Horizon in Mott Haven between the detainees and staff, in which 11 were stabbed and 15 hospitalized, according to a Council report. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026 The paper has been a target of a sweeping crackdown on dissent that has intensified after the start of the conflict in Ukraine. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 Lawmakers are also dealing with a structural deficit and deep cuts to Medicaid — which has intensified competition for tax dollars. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for intensify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for intensify

Verb

But North Korea’s deepening military ties with Russia since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine have led analysts to question whether Pyongyang is becoming less reliant on Beijing.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Residents of the southern Ukrainian ⁠town, occupied by Russian forces since February 2022, have reported a deepening food crisis.

— Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of deepen

Verb

Throughout history, some were commissioned to enhance the interiors with their signature flair while others bartered their artwork for breaks on daily rates and others simply just thrived off the scene.

— Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
Each picture mode offers essentially the same rich set of options, except for AI-enhanced, which locks you out of some settings (including local contrast and color tuner), presumably because the AI logic is handling those.

— M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of enhance

Verb

Against a largely black palette, flashes of alarm red and bubblegum pink heightened the collection’s apocalyptic ethos.

— Livia Caligor, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
As with his previous films, Iñárritu tells his story using scenes out of order so that the pieces fall together in a jagged form that heightens the tension.

— Ray Bennett, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of heighten

Verb

Studies also suggest that El Niño can strengthen and accelerate the frequency of nor'easters by pushing warm, moist air to the north.

— Ava Berger, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
Colleges and universities can take advantage of their expertise, resources and autonomy from the traditional K-12 education establishment to strengthen not only the state’s charter movement, but public education in their communities.

— Thibaut Delloue, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of strengthen

Browse Nearby Words

intensifies

intensify

intensifying

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“Intensify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intensify. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of intensify

verb

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