Emphasize vs Signify - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between emphasize and signify

is that emphasize is to stress, give emphasis or extra weight to (something) while signify is to give (something) a meaning or an importance.

* emphasise

(emphasiz)

To stress, give emphasis or extra weight to (something).

His two-fingered gesture emphasized what he had told his boss to do with his job.

* betone * stress * underscore

* de-emphasize * downplay

* reemphasize * overemphasize * underemphasize

(en-verb)

To give (something) a meaning or an importance.

To show one’s intentions with a sign etc.

* (rfdate) (William Shakespeare)

I'll to the king; and signify to him / That thus I have resign'd my charge to you.

* (rfdate) (Jonathan Swift)

The government should signify to the Protestants of Ireland that want of silver is not to be remedied.

To mean; to betoken.

* (rfdate) (William Shakespeare)

A tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing.

* (l) * (l)