1
as in to intensify
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 to lift
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
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Recent Examples of heighten
The initiative, called Safe City, Dangerous Roads, will heighten law enforcement presence throughout Tarrant County’s roadway system, Waybourn said.
—
Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2025
The uncertainty and high stakes surrounding major events like natural disasters and election outcomes often leave people feeling powerless, which can heighten anxiety—especially when they’re personally impacted.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 29 Oct. 2025
Sticky candies, on the other hand—like Twizzlers and Starbursts—stay on the teeth longer, heightening the risk of cavities.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
The smaller field heightens the importance of precision, especially for a team missing its most creative players.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heighten
Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2025
The uncertainty and high stakes surrounding major events like natural disasters and election outcomes often leave people feeling powerless, which can heighten anxiety—especially when they’re personally impacted.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 29 Oct. 2025
Sticky candies, on the other hand—like Twizzlers and Starbursts—stay on the teeth longer, heightening the risk of cavities.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
The smaller field heightens the importance of precision, especially for a team missing its most creative players.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heighten
Verb
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Melissa rapidly intensified, jumping from a 70 mph tropical storm on Saturday morning to a 140 mph Category 4 hurricane Sunday morning.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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The 2023 edition opened a month later as Israel intensified its bombing campaign on Gaza, which has since killed more than 67,000 people, injured another 170,000 and razed the Palestinian territory to the ground, prompting accusations of genocide, which Israel has strongly rejected.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Mpisi said that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande both helped clean her up and lift her spirits after the spill.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Nov. 2025
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On your straight leg, tighten the muscles on the front of your thigh and slowly lift your leg to the height of your bent knee or slightly higher.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Far from creating a cold, mechanical work experience, AI collaboration enhanced positive emotions in ways that rival human teamwork itself.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
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Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While there have been many fine adaptations of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Alastair Sim's performance as the miserly, penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge elevates this version to must-see status.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
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There’s that kind of intensity and fuel that has fanned the fire of Mirador in someways that’s really elevated the band and the performances.—
Gary Graff,
Billboard,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Japan, one of the world’s most homogeneous nations, faces deepening labor shortages as its birth rate plummets and its population ages.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Using fractional diffusion theory, the research deepens understanding of transient charging behaviors in complex materials, which is key to designing high-performance components used for advanced engineering electrochemical systems in general.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Trump’s lack of specifics on his new 10% Canada tariff raised key questions for Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
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Owsley Brown Frazier, a fourth-generation descendant of George Garvin Brown, alone raised more than $500 million in his lifetime.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Perhaps witnessing that transformation strengthens its usefulness to others.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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Both coalitions align African foundations and businesses to coordinate investments, champion learning as an economic priority, and strengthen delivery through their influence and capabilities.—
Obiageli Ezekwesili,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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These gifts serve the students, advance research and uplift the entire Louisville community.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Oct. 2025
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Five clusters of uniformed girls press together, arms uplifted, each holding up another girl who balances on one leg.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heighten. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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