Definition of multiplynext
1
as in to reproduce
to bring forth offspring rabbits multiply with proverbial rapidity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3

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 This effect is multiplied during supply chain disruptions, which reward agility and punish rigidity. Gary McGuigan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Europe is warming faster than any other continent and the number of extreme heat days is expected to multiply, says Mounia Mostefaoui, a climatologist and board member of a French scientific expert group on climate change. Npr's International Desk, NPR, 29 July 2026 This gives germs ample time to multiply, making contaminated food harder to locate and recall. Lisa Cuchara, The Conversation, 29 July 2026 Players can also add Power Play for an extra $1, which can multiply non-jackpot winnings by up to 10 times. Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for multiply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for multiply
Verb
  • The fish eat invasive weeds but don’t reproduce, leading to annual fish stocking.
    John Marks, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
  • The method generates complex patterns that are difficult for classical systems to reproduce.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • The airport says arrivals to Denver are also delayed an average of 15 minutes and increasing due to the weather.
    Christa Swanson, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Earlier this year, Republicans had hoped to campaign on falling rates and a bipartisan bill to increase home construction to help defend their House and Senate majorities.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • As tensions rise with the Sacramento County Office of Education, Sacramento City Unified is pressing ahead with a new fiscal sustainability plan aimed at avoiding insolvency and preserving local control.
    Chaewon Chung July 30, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
  • Ajanel is now a rising junior at Dalton State College pursuing a career in nursing.
    Nila Roper, AJC.com, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • The cuttings can be propagated in water until roots form to grow new plants.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026
  • However, when discussions are not grounded in evidence, misinformation can be propagated and can do real harm to the general public.
    Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In the mid-1960s, the festival expanded from an intimate get-together among church members to a cultural exchange for the greater Sacramento community.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • San Gregorio State Beach is now roughly twice its size after expanding into the formerly private ranch, San Gregorio Ranch.
    Sooji Nam, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • While PennDOT already has created over 30 wildlife crossings, the establishment of the new cohesive group of state agency stakeholders is likely to accelerate building the safe animal passageways and reverse the high collision rate with motorists.
    Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Campbell said some people use BPC-157 in combination with another peptide known as TB-500 to accelerate healing.
    Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • The better question is whether a decision should be automated, augmented or left to human judgment.
    Pooya Tabesh, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
  • Its recruit and redeploy stages require roles decomposed into explicit tasks—making what AI can augment answerable task by task.
    Manu Khetan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • As passengers chanted the incantation together, white light flashed through the carriage, and music swelled from the speakers.
    Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • Wasp activity starts to ramp up in late summer and fall as colony sizes swell.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 29 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Multiply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/multiply. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on multiply

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!