heighten

Exports surged 23.9% in the 12 months from July 2025, but that will only heighten concerns about “China Shock 2.0” that have economies all over the world contemplating draconian restrictions on Chinese trade.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Psychologically, mirrors heighten self-awareness, and thus prompt people to behave better overall, more in line with ideals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

Adam Wharton's man-of-the-match performance in the final will only serve to heighten the feeling the midfielder is destined to join an elite club.

From BBC ● May 28, 2026

"Even without a new product launch today, Huawei's intent is clear — and its trajectory will likely heighten US concerns."

From Barron's ● May 25, 2026

The starkness of the room seemed to heighten the natural warmth of the occasion.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Coverage of the 1986 World Series doesn’t mention Boston’s 68-year stretch without a title, which heightens the devastation of their Game 6 loss to the New York Mets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Tehran’s evolving strategy will likely make it harder to reach a durable agreement to end the conflict, and heightens the risk of more-frequent rounds of escalation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

More generally, he added, "this withdrawal weakens the international architecture of criminal justice and heightens fears that the perpetrators of the most serious crimes will escape any prosecution".

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

But when the pressure heightens and matters boil over between the quartet, Wilde carefully examines the resulting eruption instead of recoiling.

From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026

Nothing heightens this false shame, and the awkwardness it occasions, so much as vanity.

From Letters on the Improvement of the Mind, Addressed to a Lady by Hester Chapone

Mr. Blaževičius’s considerable achievement here is to have created a film that observes them in dual heightened contexts, of history and heartbreak, without forcing the connections between the two.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

But like it or not, he must learn to reckon with the heightened expectations and speculation that comes with simply being good at his current job.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

However, maintaining that heightened state of readiness may also increase the chance of immune "friendly fire," in which the body mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues and triggers autoimmune disease.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026

Moskow noted that the pressure on Hidden Valley Ranch sales comes after the brand had benefited from heightened consumer interest during the World Cup earlier this summer, when international fans became enamored with ranch flavoring.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

I could think again, and the thinking led to a heightened sensation of pain, if there could be such a thing, and a frightening realization, too.

From "Winger" by Andrew Smith

And I’m sure the threat of being sued by your current employer is just heightening any anxiety you already have around the job-hunting process.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

The outbreak is still not under control and is taking place in a conflict zone with very mobile populations – heightening the need for a vaccine to help stop the spread of disease.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

But the Middle East conflict has strained shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for supplies, heightening unease among farmers ahead of the July-October sowing period.

From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026

A super-strength El Niño appears to be taking shape in the Pacific Ocean, heightening concerns that Southern California could be in for an extreme rainy season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026

Cutie said nothing, nor did any other robot, but Donovan became aware of a sudden heightening of tension.

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov