The phrase "makes much of" means to give great importance or attention to something. There are several synonyms that can be used in place of this phrase. For instance, one can use the phrase "emphasizes" to mean the same thing. Another good synonym is "highlights" which also means to give importance to something. You can also use "magnifies" which implies that something is being made to appear more significant than it really is. Additionally, "exaggerates" suggests that someone is inflating the significance of something beyond the acceptable limit. Using synonyms effectively in writing will help you avoid redundancy and make your writing more impactful.