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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 stepped up Councilmember Raman stepped up with courage and grace to take on the status quo. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026 Police said foot patrols have been stepped up in the area out of an abundance of caution. — Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026 Freshman setter Isabella Collado stepped up in the fifth set to help the Panthers secure the victory. — Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026 Set to bachata, cumbia, and reggaeton instrumentals, attendees stepped up to a vintage microphone to record their own rendition, creating a playful moment in the spotlight that brought the spirit of Latin Week to life. — Meghan Mahar, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2026 Since the Current traded away Ally Sentnor to Angel City, Hopkins stepped up and provided what the Current needed at striker, perhaps as a better stylistic fit than Sentnor. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026 Gilgeous-Alexander and McCain stepped up when San Antonio pulled close, combining for 25 points in the second half. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026 Johan Enslin, an ARPA-E program director, envisions a grid in which power can be converted, directed and managed automatically—much like the way data are routed around the Internet—rather than merely stepped up or down. — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 China has lately stepped up its efforts to secure rare-earth ore around the world. — Glenn Zorpette, IEEE Spectrum, 15 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped up

Verb

The Middle East is not the only part of the world where threats to the Internet’s undersea backbone have intensified.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
Two years later, as clashes between the South Vietnamese government and protesters intensified, Morgenthau urged the United States to get out.

— David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of intensified

Verb

Election nonprofits have stepped up to try to fill the gap, and states, with CISA’s help, have enhanced their own cyber defenses.

— Jen Fifield, ProPublica, 2 Nov. 2026
But this isn't exactly what the surface of the planet would look like through our eyes; the image is color-enhanced.

— Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of enhanced

Verb

Essentially a two-tone style with a Bright Cactus green leather base and glossy black patent leather, the pair’s undeniable Joker look is heightened by its choice of Dark Iris purple shoelaces.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026
His remarks in the lead-up to the midterms have heightened concerns across the Persian Gulf that strikes against Iran will soon resume.

— Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of heightened

Verb

In addition, CrowdStrike has deepened its partnership with Nvidia in 2026, collaborating on real-time AI security agents that aim to protect data centers and cloud infrastructure.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2026
El Sayed’s campaign asked Stevens to stay away from his remaining campaign events on Saturday as the two deepened their feud just days ahead of the toss-up Senate race.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of deepened

Verb

Their partnerships across Jewish, Asian American, immigrant, and other communities supported Sam Sutton’s historic election as New York’s first Sephardic Jewish state senator and strengthened the coalition behind our victories this week.

— Joey Saban, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026
Congressional oversight has strengthened the democratic system at many points.

— Gibbs Knotts, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of strengthened

Verb

The judge consolidated the cases and set up a joint briefing schedule, indicating that her decision will likely be triggered by the Planning Commission meeting.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
There’s a red company and there’s a new blue company that just consolidated.

— Nilay Patel, The Verge, 2 Nov. 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 9 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of stepped up

verb

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