heightens

verb

present tense third-person singular of heighten
1
as in intensifies
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 lifts
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

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 heightens That reach has made the company an increasingly important link between farms and some of America's biggest food companies, and heightens the risk of food safety problems spreading. — Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 Remember, Virgo wants facts, systems and practical solutions, while Pisces heightens our intuition, compassion and spirituality. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026 The move heightens pressure on Infantino, who is facing growing calls to resign, though Saudi Arabia’s soccer federation backed him on Thursday. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026 The herpes virus that causes chickenpox and shingles also heightens the risk of cardiovascular disease, research has shown, so better protection from Shingrix than Zostavax could help. — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 26 Aug. 2026 New figures show nearly two-thirds believe AI heightens the need for human discussion, a figure that jumps to 82% for critical decisions. — Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 That sound underscores the physicality of the medium and heightens the sensation of time passing. — Rafaela Bassili, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026 Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande shine as Elphaba and Glinda (sorry, Galinda), and their natural chemistry only heightens the tragedy of the friendship between the two legendary Ozian characters. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Aug. 2026 And yet each leg up in the market heightens the risk of more Situational Awareness-like squeezes, and of individualized distress giving way to a broader bust. — John Cassidy, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heightens
  1. intensifies
  2. lifts
  3. enhances
  4. elevates
  5. deepens
  6. raises
  7. strengthens
  8. uplifts
Verb
  • Over the coming years, NASA’s VIPER rover, the European Space Agency’s PROSPECT drilling package, and the Japan-India LUPEX rover are expected to arrive at the moon’s south pole, as the race to find water sources intensifies.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The challenge of proximity becomes more serious when a storm rapidly intensifies.
    — Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of intensifies
Verb
  • In one work, a trompe-l’oeil page corner lifts to reveal a world beyond.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • SpaceX's Starship rocket lifts off from Starbase, Texas, as seen from South Padre Island on August 26, 2025, for its tenth test flight.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of lifts
Verb
  • Establishing and nurturing a robust professional relationship map—comprising sponsors, mentors, allies and followers—enhances professional impact and reputation, both critical to accessing new opportunities.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Packed with potent ingredients like isopropyl cloprostenate, amino acids, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E, this formula nurtures and enhances your brows from the root.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of enhances
Verb
  • The cold temperature and the snap of the hardened chocolate really elevates the whole experience.
    — Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The fiber noticeably elevates hand feel, making denim smoother and softer against the skin, while adding a subtle sheen and surface richness that enhances the aesthetic.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of elevates
Verb
  • The measure targets Central Valley and Central Coast lands facing strict groundwater pumping limits, offering a lifeline for growers as climate change deepens droughts.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This is the rare prequel that deepens and complicates the world of the original — and the rare lower-budget sequel that manages to look and sound great years later.
    — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of deepens
Verb
  • And autonomy raises the cost of error, because outputs turn into actions.
    — Emily Lewis-Pinnell, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The Federal Open Market Committee typically raises rates to help tame inflation, which rose faster than paychecks over the year in July and has remained above the Fed’s 2% target for five years.
    — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of raises
Verb
  • Every solution is designed to augment human expertise rather than replace it, ensuring AI strengthens decision-making while maintaining accountability, transparency, and trust.
    — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The investment also strengthens Winnipeg’s position in a specialized part of the aerospace supply chain.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of strengthens
Verb
  • Tennesse’s core film and TV production incentive is a 25% rebate on eligible expenses in the state, with uplifts possible, on a minimum spend of $500,000.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Venus will also be in harmony with lucky Jupiter, which uplifts the energetic atmosphere with joy, charm and possibility.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of uplifts

Browse Nearby Words

heightening
heightens
heights
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heightens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heightens. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All