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as in to develop
to express more fully and in greater detail after filing a report of missing luggage, he was asked to amplify a bit as to the circumstances

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb amplify differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of amplify are dilate, distend, expand, inflate, and swell. While all these words mean "to increase in size or volume," amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

amplify the statement with details

When is it sensible to use dilate instead of amplify?

Although the words dilate and amplify have much in common, dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

dilated pupils

In what contexts can distend take the place of amplify?

The meanings of distend and amplify largely overlap; however, distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

a distended abdomen

When would expand be a good substitute for amplify?

While the synonyms expand and amplify are close in meaning, expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (such as growth, unfolding, addition of parts).

a business that expands every year

When could inflate be used to replace amplify?

The synonyms inflate and amplify are sometimes interchangeable, but inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

an inflated ego

When might swell be a better fit than amplify?

The words swell and amplify can be used in similar contexts, but swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

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 amplify The caption amplified the humor for viewers, many of whom shared similar experiences. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025 The device, called the Rickenbacker Frying Pan ― for Beauchamp’s business partner Adolf Rickenbacker ― featured an electromagnetic pickup to amplify the strings. Daily Briefing, AZCentral.com, 10 Aug. 2025 This thinking — amplified by extensive 24/7 hybrid media coverage and heated venture capital echo chambers — obscures a more nuanced transformation occurring at the periphery of traditional power structures. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025 Her fiery personality, her pizazz amplified the boldness in his prints. Essence, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for amplify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amplify
Verb
  • The Royals continue to develop Bergert with each start.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Both models will offer buyers a choice of 6-speed manual or 8-speed direct automatic transmission (DAT) developed in-house by Gazoo Racing.
    Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • During the month of its release, the number of articles about KPop Demon Hunters increased nearly four-fold to 1,394.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Effective July 1, her salary will increase to $244,400.
    Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • West won't feel the fall preview Folks in the West would welcome some of the chill that will overtake the Midwest and Northeast: Dangerous heat is expected to intensify and expand in coverage over much of the western U.S. into the weekend, the National Weather Service said.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Scientists, as a group, lean more Democratic and less Republican than the rest of the public, a trend that seems to have intensified in recent decades.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 23 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Currently, Ryan is expanding his expertise by working toward becoming a licensed nutritionist, adding a well-rounded dimension to his fitness programs.
    William Jones, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
  • The Group’s resources explain how to lawfully implement employee resource or affinity groups, expand applicant recruiting pools, and collect workforce data to analyze barriers to equal opportunity.
    Michelle Travis, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Driving impressions The Sportage hybrid accelerates well from a standstill.
    Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • From Crisis to Control: The Three Phases of Crypto Tax Strategy By 2017, crypto still wasn’t mainstream, but adoption was accelerating.
    Patrick Camuso, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • What steps to follow when driving in the rain? Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2025
  • His ongoing mission is to elevate public safety and rescue operations, using technology to enhance how communities respond to the needs of their most vulnerable citizens.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Since the trend-setting move to supplement racing purses with gaming machine money, the live racing meet has grown by leaps and bounds.
    Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Michigan's universal programs provides meals for all students, regardless of family income, by supplementing the federal funding.
    Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The results mirror our Middlebury findings: Globally, students who use AI tend to be more likely to use it to augment their coursework, rather than automate it.
    Germán Reyes, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2025
  • This year, the state plans to augment its LIHEAP grant with more than $7 million in unused funds from past winter heating assistance efforts.
    John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Amplify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amplify. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.

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