potentiate

This term is primarily used in pharmacology, biochemistry, and medicine. It describes a specific synergistic interaction where one substance increases the effectiveness of another, even if the first substance has little or no effect on its own. This differs from a simple additive effect where two drugs of the same type are combined to increase the total dose.

In a clinical or laboratory register, it is a highly technical term. Using it in a casual context would be perceived as overly formal or jargon-heavy. It is almost exclusively used as a transitive verb focusing on the chemical or biological enhancement of a reaction or drug's efficacy.