Intensifier: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know what an intensifier is? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on intensifier, including its definition, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What is an intensifier?

According to Grammar Monster, an intensifier is a word that strengthens or weakens another word, which is an intensive adverb. These adverbs modify adjectives to strengthen them. Be careful with the overuse of intensifiers, and look for places in which you can use a stronger word that does not need intensifying. Avoid using this group of words in formal writing. The sole purpose of an intensifier is to be an amplifier for the real meaning of another word. These are also sometimes called boosters, amplifiers, downtoners, or limiting modifiers. On the contrary, there is also a reducer which reduces the intensity or a word. Like modal verbs and the passive voice, intensifiers, qualifiers and quantifiers are important concepts to understand in English grammar. Do not use an intensifier with a non-gradable adjective.

While there is little semantic content in the meaning of the word, it affects the degree of emphasis of another linguistic element of the sentence.

According to Dictionary, the word intensifier (ɪnˈtɛnsɪˌfaɪə) has a few different additional meanings. This can refer to a substance that contains silver or uranium, which is used to increase the density of a photographic film or plate. A hydraulic intensifier is also a ram-operated device to increase hydraulic pressure. These work powered by a pump and do not operate with gases. They create high pressure or higher pressure PSI than before.

What is an example of an intensifier?

Intensifiers can be used in many different contexts in the English language. Trying to use a word or grammatical technique in a sentence is one of the best ways to memorize what it is, but you can also try making flashcards or quizzes that test your knowledge. Try using this term of the day in a sentence today! Below are a couple of examples of intensifier that can help get you started incorporating this tool into your everyday use.  Take a look at these intensifier examples from My English Pages, Grammar Monster and Thought Co and see how many you can identify the intensifier in!

  •  I am dreadfully sorry.
  •  You play soccer very well.
  •  It’s quite calm here.
  •  I strongly disagree.
  •  Your child is very badly behaved, very loud, and extremely disruptive.
  •  It’s absolutely amazing.
  •  This pie is very tasty.
  •  Do you really mean it.
  •  It’s extremely hot in Africa.
  •  It’s a damn shame that the photography of the terror attack left us in such awe.
  •  “The women I had as very close friends were very independent women, very progressive. They’re very sensitive about social change.”—Toni Morrison
  •  That is an insanely clever plan.
  •  This pie is very tasty.
  •  Nothing to me feels as good as laughing incredibly hard. (Actor Steve Carell)
  •  In Jaws, they used their state-of-the-art animatronic shark very sparingly because it kept breaking down, but it was why the film was so good. It was all suggested. (Actor Tom Ellis)
  •  These students are rather noisy.
  •  I don’t see myself as a philosopher. That’s awfully boring. (Author and philosopher Ray Bradbury)
  •  She writes poems too often.
  •  I don’t need much money. I lead a fairly simple life. (TV presenter Karl Pilkington)
  •  The pressure is dropping terribly quickly.
  •  Last week’s test was incredibly easy.
  •  “Oh, I am so not in the mood for this. I’ve just been shot!”—Nicki Aycox as Meg Masters in “Supernatural”
  •  You can only enjoy life when you’re extremely busy. (Actress Josephine de La Baume)
  •  I am a little angry with her.
  •  I make things up for a living. It would be pretty boring to write about real people. (Author Kristin Gore)
  •  Last week’s test was really easy.
  •  If everything is very important, then nothing is important. (Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney)
  •  It’s fairly interesting.
  •  It is very tasty.
  •  Being a woman is a terribly difficult task, since it consists principally in dealing with men. (Writer Joseph Conrad)
  •  He’s pretty intelligent.
  •  “The woodwind has a slightly greater scope than the violin.”—John Philip Sousa
  •  You look awfully pale.
  •  Last week’s test was insanely easy.
  •  I so wanted to buy the dress.

What are synonyms and antonyms of intensifier?

There are many different words that one can use in place of the word intensifier. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same meaning as another word or phrase. Synonyms are a useful tool to know in the English language because they can help people to avoid repeating themselves while simultaneously growing their vocabulary. This list of synonyms for the word intensifier is provided by Power Thesaurus. 

  •  aggravator
  •  step-up
  •  lens
  •  exaggerator
  •  enhancers
  •  multiplier
  •  sharpener
  •  amp
  •  multiplicand
  •  magnifier
  •  enforcer
  •  increase
  •  compounder
  •  heightener
  •  redoubler
  •  modifier
  •  hardening
  •  amplifier
  •  bullhorn
  •  boosters
  •  particle
  •  concentrator
  •  accentor
  •  intensive
  •  enlarger
  •  combiner
  •  aggrandizer
  •  strengthener
  •  raiser
  •  harden
  •  intensify
  •  booster
  •  exciter
  •  increaser
  •  maximizer
  •  amplifiers
  •  megaphone
  •  augmenter
  •  hardens
  •  multiplicator
  •  stiffener
  •  extender
  •  fortifier
  •  simulator
  •  intensifiers
  •  augmentor
  •  adverbial
  •  multiplicative
  •  intensifies
  •  maser
  •  leverage
  •  multiplying
  •  hardener
  •  intensifications
  •  accelerator
  •  escalator
  •  hardened
  •  invigorator
  •  qualifier
  •  elevator
  •  changer
  •  reinforcer
  •  speaker
  •  intensification
  •  aggravation
  •  expander
  •  mixer
  •  intensifying
  •  developer
  •  exalter
  •  enhancer
  •  multiplication
  •  bolsterer
  •  improver
  •  strengthen

The word intensifier also has a number of antonyms, or opposite words. These words have the opposite definition as the word intensifier. Learning antonyms is another quick and easy way to expand your English language vocabulary. This list of antonyms of intensifier is also provided by Power Thesaurus. 

  •  modifier
  •  controller
  •  attenuator
  •  dampener
  •  diminisher
  •  restrainer
  •  calmer
  •  modulator
  •  soother
  •  alleviator
  •  reducer
  •  curber
  •  improver
  •  lightener
  •  allayer
  •  satisfier
  •  weakener
  •  regulator
  •  detractor
  •  abater
  •  moderator
  •  easer
  •  lessener
  •  appeaser

Overall, one can use intensifiers (in-ten-sə-fī-ər)

Sources:

  1. Glossary of grammatical terms | OED 
  2. Intensifier Definition & Meaning | Dictionary 
  3. Intensifier antonyms – 24 Opposites of Intensifier | Power Thesaurus 
  4. Intensifier Synonyms | Power Thesaurus
  5. Intensifier | What Is an intensifier? | Grammar Monster 
  6. Grammar Lesson – Intensifiers | My English Pages 
  7. Definition and Examples of Intensifiers in English | Thought Co 
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Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.

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