Meaning & use
accentuate
To make something more noticeable, prominent, or intense.
See it in a sentence
The tailored jacket accentuates her shoulders without looking stiff at all.
Good lighting can accentuate the texture of a painting in a gallery.
A note on using this word
Accentuate is often used about physical features or contrasts rather than spoken emphasis, where 'stress' is more common.
Words with a similar meaning
emphasizehighlight
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “accentuate”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.