intensify

/ɪnˈtɛnsɪfaɪ/

//ɪnˈtɛnsɪfaɪ// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"intensify" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“intensify” has 14 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #23,571. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#23,571
frequency rank, English
2,140
“I” headwords
14
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To render more intense.

Corpus desk

Index EN-intensify · intensify · English

intensify · rank #23,571 · 14 variants · 3 confusables

  • FREQ-MID #23,571
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 3 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 14 variants
  • BOOK-MID 2,140
  • PHOTO-FINISH inspecting

Nearest frequency peer: inspecting (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “intensify”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “intensify” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

intensify vs intensity
89% similar
intensify vs intensive
78% similar
intensify vs intensely
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for intensify
PropertyValue
Headwordintensify
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪnˈtɛnsɪfaɪ/
Letters9
Frequency rank#23,571
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “intensify”

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).intensifylands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “inspecting” (#23,570), “invitational” (#23,572), “inpatient” (#23,569). Among 2,140 “I” headwords, “intensify” is #23,571. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 14 spelling variants around intensify (IPA /ɪnˈtɛnsɪfaɪ/), averb. Corpus frequency is #23,571 among 2,140 “I” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for intensify, with forms such as "inetnsify", "inntensify", and "intenisfy". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "intensity", "intensive", "intensely", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From intense + -ify. Compare French intensifier. The correct English form is intensify, spelled I-N-T-E-N-S-I-F-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    To render more intense.
  2. 2
    To become intense, or more intense; to act with increasing power or energy.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how intensify appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. to intensify the heat or cold
  2. to intensify colors

Etymology

From intense + -ify. Compare French intensifier.

Synonyms

intensenexalt

This word in other languages

intensificar(Español)intensifier(Français)intensivieren(Deutsch)intensificar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • inetnsify
  • inntensify
  • intenisfy
  • intennsify
  • intensfiy
  • intensiffy
  • intensifyy
  • intensiyf
  • intenssify
  • intesnify
  • intnesify
  • inttensify
  • itnensify
  • nitensify

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of intensify - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

inetnsify2inntensify1intenisfy2intennsify1intensfiy2intensiffy1intensifyy1intensiyf2
Edit distance from "intensify"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "intensify"?
"intensify" is spelled I-N-T-E-N-S-I-F-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪnˈtɛnsɪfaɪ/.
What does "intensify" mean?
As a verb, "intensify" means: To render more intense.
What words are commonly confused with "intensify"?
"intensify" is commonly confused with "intensity", "intensive", "intensely". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "intensify"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "intensify" is /ɪnˈtɛnsɪfaɪ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "intensify"?
From intense + -ify. Compare French intensifier. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "intensify", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 9 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

inpatient#23,569horseshoe#23,563hamstring#23,559letterman#23,587

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (14 here; floor ≥5).

foresight14 variantsdiversify14 variantsdevotional14 variantscockroach14 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list