intensifier

noun

in·​ten·​si·​fi·​er in-ˈten(t)-sə-ˌfī(-ə)r How to pronounce intensifier (audio)
: one that intensifies
especially : intensive

Examples of intensifier in a Sentence

“So” can function as an intensifier, as in “I'm so tired.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The subject matter turns persistently to the cabaret and circus, which are intensifiers of life, especially its precariousness and absurdity. — Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023 Swear words might be used today as an intensifier in language, or to express emotions like anger or even joy. — Luke Taylor, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of intensifier was in 1835

Rhymes for intensifier

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Browse Nearby Words

intense
intensifier
intensify
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Cite this Entry

“Intensifier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intensifier. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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