as in enhanced
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as in deepened
to make markedly greater in measure or degree
intensified her efforts to preserve the town's historic buildings and landmarks
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Recent Examples of intensified
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026
War monitors say an intensified crackdown that began with the crushing of January’s nationwide protests continues, often targeting those who take videos of strikes or try to get around a weekslong internet blackout to contact the outside world.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The intensified drought, linked to lower-than-average rainfall, has triggered widespread food insecurity, crop failures, livestock losses, food price increases and displacement.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
The team’s emergence coincides with a period of intensified controversy for Israel in international competition, marked by boycotts and sanctions tied to the humanitarian consequences of the war in Gaza.
—Denny Alfonso, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Golden State maintained the intensified defense throughout the fourth, extending the run to 41-12.
—Sam Gordon, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Jan. 2026
In the run-up to the vote, United Nations rights monitors said Myanmar had witnessed intensified violence, repression and intimidation with civilians being threatened by both the military authorities and armed groups opposing them.
—Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
The denial comes amid intensified fighting in southern Ukraine, where Russian troops have sought to push forward in recent weeks.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Turns out, there might be a reason for my intensified symptoms.
—Anonymous, SELF, 4 Dec. 2025
Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Moreno, a health director for a labor union, said he was consumed at the time with his job, which suddenly intensified as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
Over the past quarter-century, the UKMTO has dealt with other shipping crises too, as when Somali pirates were most active during the late 2000s or Houthi rebels in Yemen intensified their attacks on vessels passing through the Red Sea in 2023.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
Competition for the underserved market, which the bank’s analysts estimated could be worth up to $1 trillion in annual sales, has intensified as remote workers swell the populations of small towns and communities on the far fringes of metropolitan areas.
—Anne D'innocenzio, Fortune, 16 May 2026
The same platforms that helped democratize exposure have also intensified burnout, blurred work-life boundaries and created new expectations around speed and performance.
—Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Cities and towns started limiting lawn watering, home car washing and other outdoor water use as reservoir levels declined and regional drought protocols intensified.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Honda also noted that new EV makers have intensified competition in China.
—Justina Lee, CNBC, 15 May 2026
After Kai’s birth, her symptoms intensified — and so did the isolation.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Adjective
Members of her staff are leaving; others are simply resistant to her ideas, noting, pragmatically, that the intensified focus on each patient will slow down their rounds and place undue pressure on the staff as a whole.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026
War monitors say an intensified crackdown that began with the crushing of January’s nationwide protests continues, often targeting those who take videos of strikes or try to get around a weekslong internet blackout to contact the outside world.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The intensified drought, linked to lower-than-average rainfall, has triggered widespread food insecurity, crop failures, livestock losses, food price increases and displacement.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
The team’s emergence coincides with a period of intensified controversy for Israel in international competition, marked by boycotts and sanctions tied to the humanitarian consequences of the war in Gaza.
—Denny Alfonso, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Golden State maintained the intensified defense throughout the fourth, extending the run to 41-12.
—Sam Gordon, San Francisco Chronicle, 9 Jan. 2026
In the run-up to the vote, United Nations rights monitors said Myanmar had witnessed intensified violence, repression and intimidation with civilians being threatened by both the military authorities and armed groups opposing them.
—Ross Adkin, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
The denial comes amid intensified fighting in southern Ukraine, where Russian troops have sought to push forward in recent weeks.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Turns out, there might be a reason for my intensified symptoms.
—Anonymous, SELF, 4 Dec. 2025
Verb
With Boston ruled out just before tip-off due to a lower leg injury, the spotlight on Caitlin Clark intensified.
—Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Moreno, a health director for a labor union, said he was consumed at the time with his job, which suddenly intensified as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
Over the past quarter-century, the UKMTO has dealt with other shipping crises too, as when Somali pirates were most active during the late 2000s or Houthi rebels in Yemen intensified their attacks on vessels passing through the Red Sea in 2023.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
Competition for the underserved market, which the bank’s analysts estimated could be worth up to $1 trillion in annual sales, has intensified as remote workers swell the populations of small towns and communities on the far fringes of metropolitan areas.
—Anne D'innocenzio, Fortune, 16 May 2026
The same platforms that helped democratize exposure have also intensified burnout, blurred work-life boundaries and created new expectations around speed and performance.
—Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Cities and towns started limiting lawn watering, home car washing and other outdoor water use as reservoir levels declined and regional drought protocols intensified.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Honda also noted that new EV makers have intensified competition in China.
—Justina Lee, CNBC, 15 May 2026
After Kai’s birth, her symptoms intensified — and so did the isolation.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intensified
Adjective
-
China has already imposed export controls on lithium-ion batteries and graphite anodes — controls that took effect in November 2025 and remain in place, with a temporary suspension of enhanced licensing requirements currently in force through November 2026.—
Gene Berdichevsky,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
-
Meanwhile, the tote is incredibly roomy and lightweight at only one pound, and each bag is fitted with additional exterior pockets for enhanced organization.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Meehan’s family soon moved to the Toures’ neighborhood, and the friendship deepened.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 left Moscow shunned on the global stage and heavily reliant on Beijing for trade due to Western sanctions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Pending any video challenges in their season finale on Tuesday night versus Anaheim, the Wild will take a perfect review record into the playoffs, where every goal or potential no goal becomes more magnified.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Maybe in some ways, kind of magnified.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Through writing the screenplay and collaborating with Young and Johnson, Harris was able to flesh out these characters in a way that heightened the tragic undertones of their story.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
-
Everything in this screen world is heightened, slightly off-kilter, but entirely plausible (with the exception being Ruby’s wretched body, still burning after all these years).—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Under federal immigration law, second‑degree bail jumping is classified as an aggravated felony, a designation that generally bars lawful permanent residents from seeking cancellation of removal and most other forms of relief.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
-
He was booked into the jail there on suspicion of robbery and aggravated battery, and then in October Lembke was extradited to Idaho and taken into custody at the Ada County Jail.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An historic meeting the president said strengthened ties between the two nations, but which did not produce a major agreement on trade or a commitment from China to help end the war with Iran.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
-
The country’s residency pathways and growing digital nomad infrastructure have further strengthened its popularity among remote workers and retirees alike.—
Meggen Harris,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
An executive wants to step away, but the majority of their wealth is tied to unvested equity or a concentrated position.—
Anatoly Iofe,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
The award-winning Star Flower Niacinamide serum contains thousands of sparkling micro pearls, each packed with fresh, nutrient-rich actives for concentrated calming benefits and deep hydration to smooth the look of pores and fine lines.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
There is a brightness and its opposite, not darkness but another brightness, just as intense.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
Paxton voters are more intense in their contempt for Cornyn than vice versa.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Intensified.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intensified. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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