Before choosing a highlight synonym, decide if your sentence needs the verb or the noun. As a verb, emphasize, stress, underline, point out and spotlight cover most needs. As a noun, the highlight of a trip is its high point or best part, and the highlights of a match are its key moments.
Report writers lean on this word heavily ("the data highlights", "this study highlights"), so swapping it now and then keeps a paper from sounding repetitive. Below you will find both parts of speech, a formality ladder, forms such as highlights and highlighting, and the antonyms.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps (verb)
emphasize, stress, underline, point outBest swaps (noun)
high point, best part, standoutPart of speech
Verb and nounMost formal
underscore, foreground, accentuateMost casual
flag, point out, best bitAntonyms
downplay, play down, gloss overWatch out
Showcase means display something at its best. It does not fit a problem you want readers to notice.Word forms covered
highlights, highlighted, highlighting
Highlight synonym table for the verb
Ask what you want the reader to do with the point: notice it, remember it or admire it.
| Word | Best for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| emphasize | making a point weigh more | The coach emphasized rest days. |
| stress | spoken or written insistence | I must stress that entry is free. |
| underline, underscore | confirming with evidence | These results underscore the risk. |
| point out | mentioning something others missed | She pointed out a typo. |
| spotlight | giving public attention | The series spotlights local bakers. |
| showcase | displaying at its best | The fair showcases student art. |
Another word for highlight as a noun
When highlight means the best moment, choose high point for neutral writing, standout for reviews and crowning moment for something triumphant. Climax works only for the peak of a story or performance.
For highlights as a summary of a game, meeting or report, use key points, takeaways or recap. On a sports broadcast, the replay package might be called the best bits in casual British speech.
- The highlight of the tour was the night market becomes the high point of the tour was the night market.
- Here are the highlights from the meeting becomes here are the key takeaways from the meeting.
How formal is each verb
The five chips go from casual to formal. Flag and point out are everyday office words; "just flagging this" is a common email line. Stress is neutral and firm. Emphasize is what most essay writers reach for. Underscore sounds polished and suits reports, policy papers and news writing.
Foreground and accentuate sit even higher. Foreground appears in academic criticism ("the novel foregrounds class"), and accentuate is common for looks and design ("the belt accentuates the waist").
Highlights synonym and highlighting synonym forms
For the third person, swap highlights for emphasizes, stresses, underlines or points to. For the past, use emphasized, stressed, pointed out or spotlighted.
Another word for highlighting depends on the task. If you mean drawing attention, write emphasizing, stressing or bringing out. If you mean marking a page with a pen, write marking, color-coding or tagging.
A lab report reads: "Figure 2 highlights the growth spike, which highlights the role of light." The edited version: "Figure 2 shows the growth spike, which points to the role of light."
When a swap misleads
Reveal means making something hidden known, while highlight assumes it was already visible. Mention is weaker; it notes something in passing without giving it weight. Illustrate means explaining with an example. Feature works for products and articles ("the magazine features three chefs") but sounds odd for an argument.
If you are unsure, the neutral choices emphasize and demonstrate rarely go wrong in an academic paper.
Opposite of highlight
To do the reverse of highlighting is to downplay, play down or understate something. Gloss over suggests skipping it on purpose, and obscure means hiding it. For the noun, the opposite of a highlight is a low point, or jokingly a lowlight.
- The press release downplayed the losses.
- Losing my bag was the low point of the trip.
Browse more academic verbs under essay and academic words.
Frequently asked questions
Which word can replace highlight in an essay?
Emphasize, underscore and stress are the safest essay swaps. Use points to or suggests if the evidence is less certain.
What is another word for highlights of an event?
High points, best moments and standout moments work for a trip or show. Key points and takeaways suit a meeting or report.
Is underline the same as highlight?
In the figurative sense, yes: both mean emphasize. Literally, underlining draws a line under words, and highlighting colors over them.
Can I use showcase instead of highlight?
Yes, when you mean showing something at its best, such as skills or products. Avoid it for problems or risks.
What is the opposite of highlight?
Downplay is the standard antonym for the verb. Low point is the opposite of the noun.
How do I say highlight on a resume?
Use showcase, feature or spotlight for projects, and emphasize for skills in a cover letter. Avoid repeating the same verb in two bullets.