as in strengthening
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1
as in intensifying
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
several controversial measures have heightened parental awareness of the impact of school policy decisions
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lifting
to move from a lower to a higher place or position
heightened the hem on her skirt just a couple of inches
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heightening
James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Lighting designer Esquire Jauchem softens and brightens above and around the ever-moving Rubinstein as topics and memories call for the heightening and muting of the president’s feelings and emotions.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
Just a day later, Neptune retrograde shifts into Pisces, heightening intuition and deepening emotional awareness with entirely new depth.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Major reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin remain well below average, the agency’s latest data shows, heightening concerns about water availability across the region.
—Daniel Manzo, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Warm overnight lows in the 60s and 70s prevent body cooling, heightening risks for heat exhaustion and heatstroke among seniors, homeless individuals and those with chronic conditions.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Lower has the yeoman’s task of heightening the narrative’s frenetic unease.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Arrests have proven to be ineffective at stopping drug use, instead heightening risk of overdose and death.
—Grey Gardner, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Fouad Berry, a board member at the Islamic Institute of Knowledge in Dearborn, Michigan, said that the community center and mosque is heightening security because of the war.
—Amaarah Decuir, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
One question law enforcement and Homeland Security officials may be wrestling with, Chasdi said, is whether the public alerts enhance safety by heightening awareness or whether the publicity about them may, unintentionally, inspire more of them.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 13 Mar. 2026
The war is also heightening unease in Seoul about its alliance with the United States.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
It all sticks — every Dutch angle, inventively silly camera placement, and enthusiastic heightening of high-noon suspense.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Lighting designer Esquire Jauchem softens and brightens above and around the ever-moving Rubinstein as topics and memories call for the heightening and muting of the president’s feelings and emotions.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 20 Jan. 2026
Just a day later, Neptune retrograde shifts into Pisces, heightening intuition and deepening emotional awareness with entirely new depth.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
The rapid warm-up is creating the unstable atmosphere needed for supercell development, heightening the hail and severe thunderstorm risk.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Major reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin remain well below average, the agency’s latest data shows, heightening concerns about water availability across the region.
—Daniel Manzo, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Warm overnight lows in the 60s and 70s prevent body cooling, heightening risks for heat exhaustion and heatstroke among seniors, homeless individuals and those with chronic conditions.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Lower has the yeoman’s task of heightening the narrative’s frenetic unease.
—Courtney Howard, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Arrests have proven to be ineffective at stopping drug use, instead heightening risk of overdose and death.
—Grey Gardner, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Fouad Berry, a board member at the Islamic Institute of Knowledge in Dearborn, Michigan, said that the community center and mosque is heightening security because of the war.
—Amaarah Decuir, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
One question law enforcement and Homeland Security officials may be wrestling with, Chasdi said, is whether the public alerts enhance safety by heightening awareness or whether the publicity about them may, unintentionally, inspire more of them.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 13 Mar. 2026
The war is also heightening unease in Seoul about its alliance with the United States.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heightening
Noun
-
What followed was not just the growth of an industry, but the strengthening of tribal self-determination.—
Cody J Martinez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Indeed, both companies aim to continue the exploration of new synergies that contribute to the growth and strengthening of their editorial and audiovisual strategies.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Regulatory pressures are intensifying, Larson noted, with shifting requirements and a changing geopolitical backdrop making compliance a moving target.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
As multinational drugmakers flood China in search of deals, competition is intensifying, and valuations are rising sharply, according to VCs and other observers.—
Brian Yang,
STAT,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The city chose a more muscular solution, raising the park and lifting the river’s edge to form a wall intended to hold back sixteen feet of surge.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
If Orbán is reelected, the EU could use that funding as a bargaining chip to extract concessions such as lifting his veto of the 90 billion euros to Ukraine, Hegedűs said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As Christians around the world mark Holy Week, the Catholic Church in the United States is reporting a notable increase in attendance and interest in joining the faith.—
Loureen Ayyoub,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the same time, the company is deepening its integration of artificial intelligence.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The latest data was published in the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s yearly economic indicators report, which offered an overall bleak picture of the Bay Area economy, including declining buying power among residents and deepening office vacancies in the city.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But the arc — first raising expectations for a big reveal, then declaring there was nothing to see, and ultimately a forced, flawed document dump — was a stubbornly problematic storyline that ran through her time as attorney general.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Despite recent rain and snow in Northern California, state water officials say the Sierra snowpack remains near historic lows, raising concerns about water availability during the hot summer months.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The pepper companion plants featured here play various roles in the garden community, enhancing pepper yields through pest reduction, weed management, and soil enhancement.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
5 Apr. 2026
-
New puzzles and interactivity will be introduced to the attraction along with other additional enhancements.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Applications will load faster and files will be easier to move, enhancing your workspeed.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Brine, a mixture of water and salt, proved effective at inhibiting spoilage while enhancing the flavor of food.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heightening. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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