Antonyms for accentuate


Grammar : Verb
Spell : ak-sen-choo-eyt
Phonetic Transcription : ækˈsɛn tʃuˌeɪt


Definition of accentuate

Origin :
  • 1731, from Medieval Latin accentuatus, past participle of accentuare "to accent," from Latin accentus (see accent (n.)). Originally "to pronounce with an accent;" meaning "emphasize" is recorded from 1865.
  • You've got to accentuate the positiveEliminate the negativeLatch on to the affirmativeDon't mess with Mister In-Between["Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive," 1944, music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by Johnny Mercer]
  • Related: Accentuated; accentuating.
  • verb focus attention on
Example sentences :
  • As a result we accentuate morals in these respects, but not in any others.
  • Extract from : « The Conquest of Fear » by Basil King
  • A method of distinction so cheap that fools employ it to accentuate their incapacity.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Dictionary » by Ambrose Bierce
  • A sickly smile came into his face, and seemed to accentuate its pallor.
  • Extract from : « The Tavern Knight » by Rafael Sabatini
  • But this only appeared to accentuate the profound stillness.
  • Extract from : « Snow-Bound at Eagle's » by Bret Harte
  • The birth of the child only served to accentuate her unimportance in the house.
  • Extract from : « Artists' Wives » by Alphonse Daudet
  • They are carefully adapted to the body, and accentuate its structure.
  • Extract from : « Two Years with the Natives in the Western Pacific » by Felix Speiser
  • They accentuate form, and we remain satisfied with performance.
  • Extract from : « The Prairie Mother » by Arthur Stringer
  • Even the gloom of the house seemed to accentuate with the years.
  • Extract from : « The Californians » by Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton
  • Perhaps it was hardly wise so to accentuate the passion on paper.
  • Extract from : « The Book-Collector » by William Carew Hazlitt
  • By a defiance of chronology Crowl had them on to-day, and they seemed to accentuate the simile.
  • Extract from : « The Big Bow Mystery » by I. Zangwill

Synonyms for accentuate

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019