STEPPED UP Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

stepped up

verb

Definition of stepped up

past tense of step up

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 Energetic Pursuit On a frigid, sunny morning in December 2025, Picard stepped up to a podium wearing a sweater embroidered with a squiggly cartoon of a mitochondrion. — Rachel Nuwer, Quanta Magazine, 17 July 2026 Russia has stepped up attacks ‌on the capital in recent weeks. — Reuters, NBC news, 11 July 2026 Contributor | Getty Images News | Getty Images Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian fuel tankers in the Sea of Azov, seeking to disrupt supplies to occupied Crimea at a time when drone strikes have triggered nationwide gasoline shortages. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 July 2026 In the absence of the hit parades the Red Sox have put on almost daily lately, the Boston bullpen stepped up. — Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026 Mbappé stepped up in the 70th minute and duly converted for his seventh goal of the tournament – overtaking Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race due to his assist total. — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 Egypt had lost their past four penalty shootouts before Salah and his team-mates stepped up to face substitute goalkeeper Mat Ryan. — Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Top England scorer Harry Kane stepped up with two decisive goals that helped his team advance. — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 The National Association of Secretaries of State, which has long been a place for secretaries to discuss election security threats, has stepped up its efforts this year, said spokesman John Milhofer. — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped up

Verb

The battle over the Strait of Hormuz intensified in a conflict increasingly focused on control of the essential waterway that previously carried a fifth of the world’s crude oil.

— Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
Oil prices have jumped as fighting has intensified in recent days, and more war would deliver another shock to global markets.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 18 July 2026

Definition of intensified

Verb

Routine bloodwork can be enhanced with biomarkers such as ApoB and hsCRP.

— Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
In the comic, twin brothers Sean and Chris learn their bodies have been enhanced by nanotechnology, thrusting them into a fight against the villain Deadalus within a futuristic world where nature and technology exist side by side.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 July 2026

Definition of enhanced

Verb

That enabled Villa to step up their existing interest, which was heightened by the loss of Onana to a knee ligament injury and then Manchester United activating the £35m release clause to sign Youri Tielemans.

— Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Forecasters warn of 95- to 110-degree temperatures in valleys such as Woodland Hills and Antelope Valley, with warm nights, high humidity and heightened risk of heat illness for vulnerable residents.

— Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of heightened

Verb

And that uncertainty only deepened last week after comments from within the organization suggested that two of Atlanta's most important starters could be ruled out for the year.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Since then, the divide between them has reportedly deepened further, especially since Charles met with Harry and his family during Harry’s visit to the UK in July 2026.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 19 July 2026

Definition of deepened

Verb

Over six weeks of World Cup play, boisterous watch parties strengthened that claim, helping draw more than 900,000 visits downtown.

— Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 19 July 2026
But there remains a nagging doubt, only strengthened by his absence from training on Thursday.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of strengthened

Verb

Buildings that do not close may also have their boundaries changed to accommodate student populations from buildings that have been consolidated.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
Meanwhile, the two, formerly large, comprehensive high schools have consolidated into one, with Inglewood High students moving to Morningside High while Inglewood High is nearly totally rebuilt.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of consolidated

Browse Nearby Words

stepped out

stepped up

steppes

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“Stepped up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepped%20up. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of stepped up

verb

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