Standard Lemma guide

intensifier

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

That which intensifies.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A word or particle that heightens the intensity of meaning of a term.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: expletive, intensive

Antonyms: downtoner

3

noun

Meaning 3

A chemical agent used to intensify the lights or shadows of a photograph.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: arts, hobbies, lifestyle, photography

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • `up' in `finished up' is an intensifier
  • `honestly' in `I honestly don't know' is an intensifier

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: intensive

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: modifier, qualifier

History

Etymology

From intensify + -er; from the most common use of such terms, to intensify an adjective.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: intensificador — that which intensifies
  • Finnish: vahvistin — that which intensifies
  • French: intensificateur — that which intensifies
  • Portuguese: intensificador — that which intensifies
  • Spanish: intensificador — that which intensifies
  • Finnish: intensifikaattori — a word or particle that heightens the intensity of meaning of a term
  • German: Intensitätspartikel — a word or particle that heightens the intensity of meaning of a term
  • German: Steigerungspartikel — a word or particle that heightens the intensity of meaning of a term
  • Hungarian: fokozószó — a word or particle that heightens the intensity of meaning of a term
  • Hungarian: nyomatékosítószó — a word or particle that heightens the intensity of meaning of a term
  • Hungarian: nyomatékosító — a word or particle that heightens the intensity of meaning of a term
  • Hungarian: nyomósítószó — a word or particle that heightens the intensity of meaning of a term
  • Hungarian: nyomósító szó — a word or particle that heightens the intensity of meaning of a term
  • Finnish: vahvistin — a chemical agent used to intensify the lights or shadows of a photograph
  • Finnish: valonvahvistin — a chemical agent used to intensify the lights or shadows of a photograph
  • Finnish: korjain — a chemical agent used to intensify the lights or shadows of a photograph