as in intensified
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
candidates stepping up their campaigns as election day draws near stepped up the pace to catch up with the others
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Recent Examples of stepped up
China hasn't ruled out the use of force and has stepped up its military exercises around Taiwan, sending warships and fighter jets closer toward the island and steadily poaching Taiwan's few remaining diplomatic allies.
—
Huizhong Wu, Arkansas Online, 11 Apr. 2026
But Leo stepped up his criticism starting on Palm Sunday.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Bateman stepped up in his place, ultimately forming an offshoot group.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 Apr. 2026
On Day 1 of the truce, and in the days since, Israel has stepped up attacks against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Lebanon, outraging Iran and leading to accusations the terms had been breached.
—Justin Fishel, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
During a slog of an away game at Penn State in which Dent went scoreless, Perry stepped up with a career-high 30 points to lift UCLA to victory.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
The loss isn’t solely on either star, but neither stepped up when the Huskies desperately needed someone to take over and make plays.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Priscilla Pena was one of the first people who stepped up to have her feet washed outside the facility on Thursday.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Roy said Crave stepped up to support the show as originally envisioned.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2026
Huizhong Wu, Arkansas Online, 11 Apr. 2026
But Leo stepped up his criticism starting on Palm Sunday.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026
Bateman stepped up in his place, ultimately forming an offshoot group.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 Apr. 2026
On Day 1 of the truce, and in the days since, Israel has stepped up attacks against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Lebanon, outraging Iran and leading to accusations the terms had been breached.
—Justin Fishel, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
During a slog of an away game at Penn State in which Dent went scoreless, Perry stepped up with a career-high 30 points to lift UCLA to victory.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
The loss isn’t solely on either star, but neither stepped up when the Huskies desperately needed someone to take over and make plays.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
Priscilla Pena was one of the first people who stepped up to have her feet washed outside the facility on Thursday.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Roy said Crave stepped up to support the show as originally envisioned.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped up
Verb
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As unmanned systems have become increasingly central to modern ground warfare, militaries and defense researchers have intensified efforts to develop wireless charging and in-flight power delivery technologies.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, the federal government’s crackdown on immigration and state limits on how many hours seasonal foreign workers with H2A visas can work have intensified agricultural labor uncertainty.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The study published in the journal Construction and Building Materials also revealed that the triangular and wavy forms significantly enhanced the beam's ability to handle post-cracking stress.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The Digest The entrance to the Colosseum in Rome has been renovated and enhanced with travertine marble by studio Stefano Boeri Interiors.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The stakes of all those efforts will be heightened during the approaching midterm elections.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Riley’s anxiety was heightened when her garden gate was recently damaged by someone.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Once the intendeds did tie the knot, their love deepened into a lifetime of devotion and admiration.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
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The freezing of those funds – equivalent to around 10% of the country’s national output – has deepened Hungary’s economic malaise.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 2025, state legislators strengthened that law by adding additional protections.—
Karen Brown,
NPR,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Her approach reflects a belief that leadership is strengthened through curiosity, adaptability and persistence.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Finally, in 2000, both stores consolidated into the current building on University Avenue, which the family purchased in 1980.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The cases were later consolidated with the claims of the state attorneys general, which include California and New York.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stepped up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepped%20up. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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