accentuate
Meaning: to stress, highlight
Usage: Psychologists agree that those people who are happiest accentuate the positive in life.
aggrandize
Meaning: to increase or make greater
Usage: Joseph always dropped the names of the famous people his father knew as a way to aggrandize his personal stature.
augment
Meaning: to add to, expand
Usage: The eager student seeks to augment his knowledge of French vocabulary by reading French literature.
crescendo
Meaning: a steady increase in intensity or volume
Usage: The crescendo of the brass instruments gave the piece a patriotic feel.
exacerbate
Meaning: to make more violent, intense
Usage: The loud argument exacerbated the tension in the room.