accentuate
verb
ac·cen·tu·ate ik-ˈsen(t)-shə-ˌwāt 
ak-
accentuated; accentuating
transitive verb
: to make (something) more prominent or noticeable : accent, emphasize
With her hair in tight curls that accentuate her pale beauty, she seems lit from within.
Peter Travers
Peter Traverstrying to accentuate the positive aspects of the program
also : intensify
accentuates the feeling of despair
accentuation
ik-ˌsen(t)-shə-ˈwā-shən
noun (ˌ)ak-
Did you know?
When you accentuate something, you put an "accent" (or emphasis) on it. So it will come as no surprise to learn that etymologists have traced accentuate back to accentus, the Latin word for accent. Accentus, in turn, combines the prefix ad- with cantus, meaning "song." Other descendants of accentus in English include accent itself, as well as accentual ("of, relating to, or characterized by accent").
Synonyms
- accent
- emphasize
- feature
- foreground
- highlight
- illuminate
- play up
- point (up)
- press
- punctuate
- stress
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He likes to wear clothes that accentuate his muscular build. let's accentuate the saxophones during this piece by having the sax players stand up
Recent Examples on the Web Most of us praise high-waist jeans for their power to accentuate our figures. Bridget Degnan, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2022 To accentuate Land Rover’s exclusivity during Monterey Car Week, the company rented a 7,800 square-foot home overlooking Monterey Bay, just down the street from Brad Pitt’s residence. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022 Yet addressing malnutrition and hunger in the short term might require pressing more land and other resources into service, which could accentuate warming. New York Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Blue is known as a cool tone, so going for a white gold band makes for a good pairing to accentuate the center stone. Frances Solá-santiago, refinery29.com, 10 Aug. 2022 His death may therefore accentuate any splits within the Taliban; the group’s moderates may wish its efforts to acclimatize to the world stage had not been hampered by this incident. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 2 Aug. 2022 To accentuate the flavor of the monkfish, Shetty adds Thai fish sauce to the pool. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 The briney & buttery Hokkaido uni, that subtle touch of salt from the caviar and a chive mignonette to cut through the richness all work beautifully together to accentuate these incredible oysters sourced from our friends at Local 130... Aly Walansky, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Harsin has been around many of these players for nearly 20 months now, which helps give him and the offensive coaches a better understanding of what players fit best in which roles that accentuate their skillsets. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 10 Aug. 2022 See More
Bridget Degnan, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2022 To accentuate Land Rover’s exclusivity during Monterey Car Week, the company rented a 7,800 square-foot home overlooking Monterey Bay, just down the street from Brad Pitt’s residence. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022 Yet addressing malnutrition and hunger in the short term might require pressing more land and other resources into service, which could accentuate warming. New York Times, 18 Aug. 2022 Blue is known as a cool tone, so going for a white gold band makes for a good pairing to accentuate the center stone. Frances Solá-santiago, refinery29.com, 10 Aug. 2022 His death may therefore accentuate any splits within the Taliban; the group’s moderates may wish its efforts to acclimatize to the world stage had not been hampered by this incident. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 2 Aug. 2022 To accentuate the flavor of the monkfish, Shetty adds Thai fish sauce to the pool. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022 The briney & buttery Hokkaido uni, that subtle touch of salt from the caviar and a chive mignonette to cut through the richness all work beautifully together to accentuate these incredible oysters sourced from our friends at Local 130... Aly Walansky, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Harsin has been around many of these players for nearly 20 months now, which helps give him and the offensive coaches a better understanding of what players fit best in which roles that accentuate their skillsets. Tom Green | Tgreen@al.com, al, 10 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Medieval Latin accentuātus, past participle of accentuāre "to accent, stress," derivative of Latin accentus accent entry 1
First Known Use
circa 1719, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
accentuate
verb
ac·cen·tu·ate ak-ˈsen-chə-ˌwāt
accentuated; accentuating
: to make more noticeable
Your blue shirt accentuates your eyes.
accentuate
verb
1
as in to emphasize
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on let's accentuate the saxophones during this piece by having the sax players stand up Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- emphasize
- highlight
- stress
- feature
- punctuate
- accent
- foreground
- identify
- illuminate
- play up
- focus
- promote
- bear down on
- pinpoint
- spotlight
- point (up)
- advertise
- press
- publicize
- make much of
- boost
- plug
- overplay
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- minimize
- tone (down)
- de-emphasize
- understate
- underemphasize
- disparage
- belittle
- play down
- discount
2
as in to intensify
to make markedly greater in measure or degree the foul weather merely accentuated my feelings of depression Synonyms & Similar Words
- intensify
- enhance
- heighten
- deepen
- strengthen
- consolidate
- reinforce
- amplify
- magnify
- emphasize
- boost
- broaden
- sharpen
- augment
- expand
- redouble
- step up
- maximize
- lengthen
- extend
- accelerate
- enforce
- supplement
- hasten
- enlarge
- beef (up)
- exacerbate
- enliven
- stress
- amp (up)
- aggravate
- reenforce
- quicken
- restrengthen
- point (up)
- jazz (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reduce
- diminish
- decrease
- moderate
- tone (down)
- abate
- weaken
- lessen
- subdue
- recede
- alleviate
- let up (on)
- lighten
- subside
- ease
- wane
- taper (off)
- dwindle
3
as in to reinforce
to make more apparent unfortunately, the new bedspread just accentuates the dinginess of the curtains behind the bed Synonyms & Similar Words
- emphasize
- reinforce
- enhance
- deepen
- underline
- underscore
- amplify
- stress
- strengthen
- heighten
- maximize
- augment
- bring out
- italicize
- supplement
- magnify
- reenforce
- enliven
- boost
- enlarge
- beef (up)
- jazz (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- minimize
- de-emphasize
- reduce
- diminish
- decrease
- tone (down)
- understate
- weaken
- subdue
- lessen