diff --git a/ayu-dark-bordered.json b/ayu-dark-bordered.json
index d06b90a..fb4f294 100644
--- a/ayu-dark-bordered.json
+++ b/ayu-dark-bordered.json
@@ -767,6 +767,30 @@
 				"background": "#b3b1ad",
 				"foreground": "#626a73"
 			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "emphasis",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "italic"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "strong",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "bold"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "markup.underline",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "underline"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "markup.italic",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "italic"
+			}
 		}
 	]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ayu-dark.json b/ayu-dark.json
index 54bbf75..d0e82c3 100644
--- a/ayu-dark.json
+++ b/ayu-dark.json
@@ -766,6 +766,30 @@
 				"background": "#b3b1ad",
 				"foreground": "#626a73"
 			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "emphasis",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "italic"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "strong",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "bold"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "markup.underline",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "underline"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "markup.italic",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "italic"
+			}
 		}
 	]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ayu-light-bordered.json b/ayu-light-bordered.json
index 4840966..95b4b06 100644
--- a/ayu-light-bordered.json
+++ b/ayu-light-bordered.json
@@ -767,6 +767,30 @@
 				"background": "#575f66",
 				"foreground": "#abb0b6"
 			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "emphasis",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "italic"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "strong",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "bold"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "markup.underline",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "underline"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "markup.italic",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "italic"
+			}
 		}
 	]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ayu-light.json b/ayu-light.json
index 9c37dff..51b5f33 100644
--- a/ayu-light.json
+++ b/ayu-light.json
@@ -766,6 +766,30 @@
 				"background": "#575f66",
 				"foreground": "#abb0b6"
 			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "emphasis",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "italic"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "strong",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "bold"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "markup.underline",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "underline"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "markup.italic",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "italic"
+			}
 		}
 	]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ayu-mirage-bordered.json b/ayu-mirage-bordered.json
index 96ab1fc..ce1d764 100644
--- a/ayu-mirage-bordered.json
+++ b/ayu-mirage-bordered.json
@@ -767,6 +767,30 @@
 				"background": "#cbccc6",
 				"foreground": "#5c6773"
 			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "emphasis",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "italic"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "strong",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "bold"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "markup.underline",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "underline"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "markup.italic",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "italic"
+			}
 		}
 	]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ayu-mirage.json b/ayu-mirage.json
index 058da6e..20e9ffd 100644
--- a/ayu-mirage.json
+++ b/ayu-mirage.json
@@ -766,6 +766,30 @@
 				"background": "#cbccc6",
 				"foreground": "#5c6773"
 			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "emphasis",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "italic"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "strong",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "bold"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "markup.underline",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "underline"
+			}
+		},
+		{
+			"scope": "markup.italic",
+			"settings": {
+				"fontStyle": "italic"
+			}
 		}
 	]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/template.ts b/src/template.ts
index b3abe5a..4a3edff 100644
--- a/src/template.ts
+++ b/src/template.ts
@@ -830,6 +830,36 @@ export default (variant: SchemeName, bordered: boolean) => {
           'background': scheme.common.fg.hex(),
           'foreground': scheme.syntax.comment.hex()
         }
+      },
+
+
+      // ------
+      // Additional scopes for semantic highlighting
+      // Adapted from the default dark theme for VS code:
+      // https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/blob/1.52.0/extensions/theme-defaults/themes/dark_vs.json
+      {
+        'scope': 'emphasis',
+        'settings': {
+          'fontStyle': 'italic'
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        'scope': 'strong',
+        'settings': {
+          'fontStyle': 'bold',
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        'scope': 'markup.underline',
+        'settings': {
+          'fontStyle': 'underline'
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        'scope': 'markup.italic',
+        'settings': {
+          'fontStyle': 'italic'
+        }
       }
     ]
   }