Emphasize

Synonyms for "emphasize" (203 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (41)

Noun(15 words)
abstract focusaccentingaccentsaccentuatingbias toward resultsboldboldfacecentercenter ofcenteringcenterscircled graphcity festival highlightclassroom chemistry orientedcollective value
accentaccentuateassertbear down onbelaborbringcall attention tocharge
Adjective(7 words)
accentedbold bbold color schemebold phrasingbrighter colorcenteredcivic values focus

Strong matches (61)

Noun(25 words)
contrastsdoesdramatizingenergy phraseflogfocus calmlyfocusesforce representationforefrontsforegroundforegroundingforegroundsgender agreement focusgroup oriented policyhigh contrast visible texthighlightinghighlightsindividual focusintensifyingintensifying adverb example
Show 5 more words
intensifying adverb examplesitalicizingkeynotinglab activity orientedlabel as important
Adjective(6 words)
core learning importanceeducator focusedessential partfeaturedheavy thrustintensified noun phrase

Related words (101)

Noun(51 words)
language use orientedlesson focuslesvosliving term conceptmark variablemilestone orientednarrative pivotnative language focusednote disorganizationnotesoverplayingpattern orientedphrase motifplace prepositionplacing actionpointpointspreview orientedprioritizingprivilege
Show 31 more words
profit centeredreal world focusresults orientedsafety featuringshiftshort term focusshowboatssingled forcespotlightsstep by step notesstone accentstory featurestress tonestressesstressingstudent centeredthrust intothrust of the argumenttone of forcefulnesstwangunderlined textunderlinesunderliningunderscoresunderscoringusage orientedweightweight behind argumentweight of authorityweightingweights
Adjective(6 words)
main subjectpersonal matteringpressing issueshort term orientedsingletangible feature
Determiner(2 words)
more cultural practicemore urging

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: accent, stress, underline, underscore, abstract focus.
  • Sentence evidence is available for emphasize, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "emphasize".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "emphasize"

Keep "emphasize" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "emphasize" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "emphasize", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "emphasize" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

9 entries

More specific

3 entries

Collocations

6 entries
critical factessential pointimportant detailkey conceptmain ideasupporting evidence

Inflections

3 entries

Derivations

3 entries

Sample sentences

11 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

You should emphasize that fact.

Source: tatoeba (16584)

I want to emphasize this point in particular.

Source: tatoeba (33531)

It is most important to emphasize that none of these processes are conscious.

Source: tatoeba (55279)

I would like to emphasize the Confucian values that exist within this group.

Source: tatoeba (61175)

Showing 4 of 11 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "emphasize"?

Closest matches include accent, stress, underline, underscore, abstract focus.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "emphasize"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "emphasize"