heightened
adj. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhaɪtənd// UK //hˈaɪtənd// height·ened
adj. stronger or more intense than usual. You use this to describe feelings, senses, or risks that have increased.
adj. increased in intensity, degree, or amount; made more acute or prominent. Often used to describe emotional states or sensory perceptions.
The dog has a heightened sense of smell.
Security at the airport was heightened following the recent series of threats.
The protagonist's heightened awareness of her surroundings serves to build tension throughout the final chapter, making every small sound seem like a potential danger.
Usage
Often used as a participial adjective following a linking verb or preceding a noun.