MULTIPLY Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'multiply' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of multiply are augment , enlarge , and increase . While all these words mean "to make or become greater," multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process. // with each attempt the problems multiplied

Q: When is it sensible to use 'augment' instead of 'multiply'?

The meanings of augment and multiply largely overlap; however, augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed. // the inheritance augmented his fortune

Q: When would 'enlarge' be a good substitute for 'multiply'?

The synonyms enlarge and multiply are sometimes interchangeable, but enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity. // enlarged the kitchen

Q: When could 'increase' be used to replace 'multiply'?

The words increase and multiply can be used in similar contexts, but increase used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition. // his waistline increased with age // increased her landholdings

multiply

verb

ˈməl-tə-ˌplī

Definition of multiply

as in to reproduce

to bring forth offspring rabbits multiply with proverbial rapidity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to increase

to make greater in size, amount, or number the booming economy multiplied the wealth of investors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to rise

to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number with each attempt the problems multiplied

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb multiply contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of multiply are augment, enlarge, and increase. While all these words mean "to make or become greater," multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process.

with each attempt the problems multiplied

When is it sensible to use augment instead of multiply?

The meanings of augment and multiply largely overlap; however, augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed.

the inheritance augmented his fortune

When would enlarge be a good substitute for multiply?

The synonyms enlarge and multiply are sometimes interchangeable, but enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity.

enlarged the kitchen

When could increase be used to replace multiply?

The words increase and multiply can be used in similar contexts, but increase used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition.

his waistline increased with age

increased her landholdings

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of multiply Septicaemic plague can develop when bacteria multiply rapidly in the bloodstream and can develop from the other two kinds of plague. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Cameras multiplied the audience onto the massive display, effectively making it all about the fans before dropping them into increasingly dark and elaborate worlds. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026 And then take that same mindset and multiply it by millions of people. — Wyles Daniel, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026 Thanks to the grays that keep multiplying by the year, my roots now demand a monthly refresh. — Beth Sobol, Flow Space, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for multiply

Recent Examples of Synonyms for multiply

Verb

Made using flexible materials, the model reproduced important features of the natural stinger’s pumping cycle, helping confirm how the valves deform and squeeze past each other.

— Mike McRae October 12, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026
That would reproduce the operating model companies are trying to improve.

— Jason Wojahn, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of reproduce

Verb

To increase supply, the International Energy Agency agreed on Thursday to release more than 20 million barrels of fuel to the market.

— Arathy Somasekhar Reuters, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Preparing multiple missions Manufacturing more rocket hardware will not increase launch frequency unless teams can prepare several missions simultaneously.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of increase

Verb

The price of Brent crude oil rose to $106 per barrel this morning.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
The milestone arrives at a precarious time for Australia’s festival sector, which has seen a wave of cancellations and closures in recent years amid rising costs and softening ticket sales.

— Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of rise

Verb

Cultivation The plant grows naturally on riverbeds, grasslands, and human-disturbed areas; it can be propagated from both seeds and stem cuttings.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
Our findings raise the prospect of a new form of algorithmic profiling, in which AI systems do not simply infer sensitive characteristics from appearance but also construct and propagate visual stereotypes associated with them.

— Ashique KhudaBukhsh, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of propagate

Verb

From elevating beds to expanding sections to sliding walls and even entire roofs, these 10 homes transform to get maximum use out of a compact space.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026
Blue Origin is expanding its Florida operations to support a much faster launch schedule, targeting multiple New Glenn flights per week by the end of the decade.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of expand

Verb

Every clinical breakthrough has cost implications, accelerates the pace of change and widens the gap between what is scientifically possible and what is practical for clinicians delivering care.

— Brad Kreick, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Its performance accelerated the slide of the ANC, once led by Nelson Mandela, which lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid and was forced to form a coalition government.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of accelerate

Verb

There is a naturalistic aesthetic to the film, augmented by the locations, the costumes and the hair and makeup design.

— Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Enabling that mode augments the on-device scam detection first shipped in March 2025, adding cloud analysis run in Google’s Private AI Compute environment.

— Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of augment

Verb

The ballad finds Fontaines’ Grian Chatten and Rosalía trading lines over a moody acoustic strum that repeatedly swells with strings and clattering drums.

— Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Global manufacturers increased their purchases of components and raw materials in September as demand swelled.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of swell

Browse Nearby Words

multiplies

multiply

multiplying

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Style

“Multiply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/multiply. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of multiply

verb

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