as in strengthening
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Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 June 2026
Meanwhile, more companies are laying off workers and investing in AI instead, heightening concerns about the technology's impact on jobs.
—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
On the contrary, this lunar transit is heightening our awareness of what feels balanced and just, and what isn’t.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
Like its predecessor 30 Rock, that constant patter defines the show’s tone by heightening its world into near absurdity, all while remaining grounded in the emotional realities of its characters.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
The president, who has repeatedly described himself as a Knicks fan, had attended Game 3, prompting heightening security concerns and extra security measures for attendees.
—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
The gameplay will feel smooth and tactile, heightening your immersion.
—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2026
Tones of silver as well as green and red added further contrast to the tone of the dress while heightening the whimsical aesthetic.
—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
10 June 2026
Today's top stories Israel and Iran committed yesterday to stop attacking each other, just hours after exchanging missile fire and heightening tensions across the Middle East.
—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
9 June 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 editing rhythms are clipped and almost metronomically precise; individual scenes feel less composed than synthesized from an array of swift, gestural fragments—a hand on a doorknob, a face at the window—which have the effect of heightening your attention.
—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 June 2026
Meanwhile, more companies are laying off workers and investing in AI instead, heightening concerns about the technology's impact on jobs.
—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
On the contrary, this lunar transit is heightening our awareness of what feels balanced and just, and what isn’t.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
Like its predecessor 30 Rock, that constant patter defines the show’s tone by heightening its world into near absurdity, all while remaining grounded in the emotional realities of its characters.
—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
The president, who has repeatedly described himself as a Knicks fan, had attended Game 3, prompting heightening security concerns and extra security measures for attendees.
—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
The gameplay will feel smooth and tactile, heightening your immersion.
—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2026
Tones of silver as well as green and red added further contrast to the tone of the dress while heightening the whimsical aesthetic.
—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
10 June 2026
Today's top stories Israel and Iran committed yesterday to stop attacking each other, just hours after exchanging missile fire and heightening tensions across the Middle East.
—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heightening
Noun
-
The strengthening of El Niño and record-high worldwide ocean temperatures could be amplifying the heat, too.
-
Behind that score is a gradual strengthening of national cyber systems.
Verb
-
That was despite intensifying heat that Cage and the communications team would make a point of emphasizing on-site and in messaging.
-
Airbnb is intensifying its fight against disruptive parties, particularly for holidays like July 4th, employing advanced technology to block high-risk bookings.
Verb
-
Proponents say the workout’s minimal movements, like short sets of squats and lifting light weights, leave them with soreness but also increase their muscle.
-
This mission will attempt to place a batch of CubeSats into orbit after lifting off from Andøya Spaceport in Norway.
Noun
-
Hispanics or Latinos were the target of the biggest increase in racially or ethnically motivated hate crimes, according to the report.
-
However, the report noted that much of this rise was due to an increase in the number of billionaires, not just three-comma club members getting richer.
Verb
-
Without a unified, clean, and accessible data structure, AI outputs quickly become ambiguous, hallucinated, and diluted, deepening the clarity crisis rather than resolving it.
-
State Street granted Saudi fund administration license State Street has secured a fund administration license in Saudi Arabia, thereby deepening the presence of one of the world’s biggest custodian banks in the kingdom.
Verb
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But a fresh start comes with plenty of new challenges — from rival ranchers and relentless cattle work to the unexpected trials of raising their teenage son, Carter (Finn Little).
-
SpaceX went public in June, raising roughly $75 billion in the largest IPO on record.
Noun
-
The court likewise declined to apply a sentencing enhancement based upon patient harm.
-
Earlier this year, Senate Republicans proposed allocating $1 billion in taxpayer dollars from legislation meant to fund immigration enforcement agencies for security enhancements for the ballroom.
Verb
-
This approach is crucial for mitigating downsides and enhancing the benefits of AI for societal mental well-being.
-
In addition to its instant, complexion-enhancing tint, the formula contains skin care ingredients lauded for their smoothing, quenching properties.
Cite this Entry
“Heightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heightening. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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