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Dictionary.com
Definitions

heat up

VERB
add
Synonyms
STRONGEST
boost continue include reply
STRONG
affix annex ante append augment hike pad parlay piggyback snowball spike supplement sweeten tag
WEAK
beef up build up charge up cue in figure in flesh out hike up hitch on hook on hook up with jack up jazz up join together plug into pour it on run up say further slap on soup up speed up step up tack on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
halt
STRONG
decrease detach subtract
WEAK
deduct diminish lessen reduce remove withdraw
VERB
annoy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate bore bother displease disturb exasperate fire up gall irk peeve perturb rile trouble turn off vex worry
STRONG
abrade badger bedevil beleaguer break bug chafe distress get gnaw harass harry madden miff nag needle nettle nudge pester plague provoke ride ruffle tease
WEAK
T-off ask for it be at be on the back of burn up egg on henpeck hit where one lives make waves push button tick off work on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid appease assist calm charm cheer comfort delight enchant help make happy please quiet reassure soothe
STRONG
mollify support
WEAK
gratify
VERB
arouse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
awaken foment incite inflame instigate kindle provoke rouse spark spur stimulate stir whip up
STRONG
agitate alert animate call challenge electrify enliven foster goad move rally send thrill waken warm whet
WEAK
fire up turn on wake up work up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm cease discourage disenchant dissuade halt prevent put out stop
STRONG
bore dishearten dull ignore receive
WEAK
lull quiet
VERB
exacerbate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate annoy heighten inflame intensify irritate provoke worsen
STRONG
embitter enrage envenom exasperate excite increase madden vex
WEAK
add insult to injury egg on fan the flames feed the fire go from bad to worse hit on push one's button rattle one's cage rub salt in a wound
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid alleviate appease calm delight help improve make happy please soothe
STRONG
comfort compose pacify placate
VERB
inflame
Synonyms
STRONGEST
agitate arouse disturb embitter enrage exacerbate fire up foment ignite incense infuriate intensify irritate kindle provoke rile roil rouse stimulate worsen
STRONG
annoy burn exasperate excite fan fire gall get grate heat increase intoxicate light madden vex
WEAK
impassion put out steam up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid appease calm comfort delight discourage disenchant extinguish help lull make happy pacify please quiet soothe stop
STRONG
bore cool dull lose quench
WEAK
alleviate placate tranquilize
VERB
intensify
Synonyms
STRONGEST
add to aggravate boost build up deepen enhance escalate exacerbate heighten increase quicken raise redouble reinforce set off sharpen step up strengthen
STRONG
accent accentuate aggrandize augment brighten concentrate darken emphasize exalt lighten magnify point rise rouse spike stress whet
WEAK
add fuel beef up intensate pour it on tone up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decrease diminish discourage dull halt help hinder hurt lessen lower reduce slow soften soothe subtract undermine weaken
STRONG
darken debase degrade depress play down upset
WEAK
calm
VERB
reinforce
Synonyms
STRONGEST
add to bolster boost build up buttress emphasize enlarge fortify increase shore up stress support underline
STRONG
carry energize harden hype multiply prop stiffen stroke supplement sustain toughen
WEAK
add fuel to fire back up beef up lend a hand pick up pillar prop up punch up soup up stand up for
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decrease diminish discourage hinder hurt lessen let down play down prevent reduce undermine weaken
STRONG
liquefy melt soften
WEAK
subtract take away
VERB
supplement
Synonyms
STRONGEST
augment build up buttress complement enhance enrich fill out fortify improve reinforce strengthen subsidize
STRONG
complete extend increase pad supply top
WEAK
add fuel to fire beef up fill up jazz up punch up step up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decrease discourage dissuade hurt injure let down reduce take away weaken worsen
STRONG
lose lower
WEAK
subtract

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Merger activity is starting to heat up again in the sector.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

While some tech stocks stalled, investors flocked to overlooked corners of the market, enticed by lower valuations and the idea that the economy would heat up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

With gas or oil, you can heat up a room very quickly.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

When talks around this topic began to heat up last year, experts told MarketWatch that shifting responsibility for the program to another agency wouldn’t do much to solve its fundamental challenges.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

Miss Saunders is giving us twenty pages of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves to read by tomorrow and telling us she’s been easy on us so far, but things are about to heat up.

From "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake