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Accentuate - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

To accentuate means to emphasize or highlight something, making it more noticeable. It can refer to stressing a feature in speech, writing, or appearance to draw attention to its importance.

accentuate

/əkˈsɛn.tʃu.eɪt/ /əkˈsen.tʃu.eɪt/

Definition:

To emphasize or make more noticeable.

Synonyms:

highlight, emphasize, underscore, stress

Part of Speech:

verb

Antonyms:

downplay, minimize

Common Collocations:

accentuate the positive, accentuate differences, accentuate features

Derivatives:

accentuation, accentuating

Usage Tips:

Use "accentuate" to describe making something stand out or more prominent.

Common Phrases:

accentuate the positive, accentuate the negative

Etymology:

From Latin "accentuare," meaning "to accent," derived from "accentus" (tone, emphasis).

Examples:

  • 1. Her dress accentuated her blue eyes.
  • 2. The lighting accentuated the painting’s vibrant colors.
  • 3. He used bold fonts to accentuate key points in his presentation.
  • 4. The speaker paused to accentuate her final argument.

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