INCREASE Synonyms: 171 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of increase are augment , enlarge , and multiply . While all these words mean "to make or become greater," 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

Q: When would 'augment' be a good substitute for 'increase'?

The words augment and increase are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed. // the inheritance augmented his fortune

Q: In what contexts can 'enlarge' take the place of 'increase'?

While in some cases nearly identical to increase , enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity. // enlarged the kitchen

Q: Where would 'multiply' be a reasonable alternative to 'increase'?

The words multiply and increase can be used in similar contexts, but multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process. // with each attempt the problems multiplied

increase 1 of 2

verb

in-ˈkrēs

Definition of increase

as in to expand

to make greater in size, amount, or number we have to increase the number of season-ticket holders if the local sports franchise is to survive

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to rise

to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number the number of Internet users increased exponentially during the 1990s

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

increase

2 of 2

noun

ˈin-ˌkrēs

as in boost

something added (as by growth) shortly after he turned 12, he had a sudden height increase

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in accumulation

the act or process of becoming greater in number the increase in the number of students enrolled at the school was very gradual

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb increase contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of increase are augment, enlarge, and multiply. While all these words mean "to make or become greater," 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

When would augment be a good substitute for increase?

The words augment and increase are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed.

the inheritance augmented his fortune

In what contexts can enlarge take the place of increase?

While in some cases nearly identical to increase, enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity.

enlarged the kitchen

Where would multiply be a reasonable alternative to increase?

The words multiply and increase can be used in similar contexts, but multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process.

with each attempt the problems multiplied

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 increase

Verb

Cuticle oil hydrates this thin, sensitive skin and promotes growth by increasing circulation, and can be applied over polish. — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 18 Sep. 2026 When the chicken is completely tender, adjust the oven rack to the highest position and increase the oven temperature to 425°F. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Noun

The increase in the rate since then, of nearly 1 percentage point, translates roughly into an additional $255 monthly cost for a borrower financing a $400,000 home loan at the current average rate. — Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 Gas station prices spiked again in Michigan, with a 21-cent increase for regular unleaded fuel and a 20-cent increase on diesel fuel when comparing Wednesday's average prices to Thursday's average prices. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for increase

Recent Examples of Synonyms for increase

Verb

Let collaboration expand the possibility without handing over ownership of it.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Novelis is expanding its portfolio of coated aluminum solutions for battery applications, targeting components including battery enclosures, casings and electrical connectors known as bus bars.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of expand

Verb

Profits returned to growth this year, rising 3% to just over $1 trillion, after a 5% decline in 2025.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2026
The proportion of people older than 65 is rising rapidly, while the working-age population that supports them shrinks.

— Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of rise

Noun

Consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of the US economy, has trended lower in recent months as the boost from bigger tax returns faded and higher energy costs took a bite out of people’s paychecks.

— Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026
Wadewitz added that the freight carrier may get an additional boost from its planned transcontinental merger.

— Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of boost

Noun

The creator-dynamics research explicitly models this relationship between platform exposure and follower accumulation, which gives platforms an unusual position in influencer marketing.

— Sergi Cerrato, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
The power of these shows didn’t come from constant intensity but from duration, repetition, and consequences that compounded across seasons, allowing meaning to emerge gradually through accumulation.

— Henry Metz, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of accumulation

Verb

Benioff is arguing that companies will increasingly embrace agentic AI systems that augment their human employees.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
The creatorAPI platform, which launched Tuesday, points to a social-media future in which content created or augmented with AI is increasingly common.

— J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of augment

Noun

Those gains, of course, allowed the club to partially circumnavigate La Liga’s spending controls so, even as the club lops off chunks of value from the asset each year, the Byzantine structure of it all has certainly served a purpose.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Islamophobia helped spur the rise of populist right-wing parties in Europe, alongside the migration crisis caused by Syria’s civil war and ISIS’s territorial gains in Syria and Iraq.

— Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of gain

Browse Nearby Words

incorruptible

increase

increased

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Style

“Increase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/increase. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of increase

verb

noun

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