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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Oversized animals, including dinosaurs, bulls, roosters, hens and seals, also multiplied. Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 Bird baths placed in full afternoon sun heat up quickly, creating the perfect environment for algae to multiply faster. Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 12 May 2026 Indeed, over the past several months, the Islamic Republic has responded to pressure not by simplifying its structure of authority, but by multiplying and obscuring the channels through which authority is exercised. Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 9 May 2026 Those habeas petitions quickly multiplied. Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 9 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for multiply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for multiply
Verb
  • And sure, animals such as starfish and flatworms can reproduce by cloning themselves—but at the end of the day, in most species, the survival of animals rests on their mothers.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 10 May 2026
  • Previous studies investigated several of these features individually, but the new work attempts to reproduce the basin’s shape, crustal asymmetry, and impact direction within a single impact scenario.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • But ultimately, Ayton needs to increase his scoring at the rim, Redick said.
    Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026
  • His most fulfilling moment was when the fourth calf was born in the wild last year, an indication that the bongos are thriving in their native habitat and that their population will certainly increase.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • As tensions rise between the United States and China over trade, technology, Taiwan and military influence, the relationship between the world’s two largest economies is increasingly shaping global politics and national security debates.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 15 May 2026
  • The national debt has surpassed the GDP, Social Security and Medicare face looming financial crises, inflation is rising, families are struggling — and yet Congress does nothing.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Will history books that refuse to propagate the fiction that the 2020 election was stolen be allowed in red-state classrooms?
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
  • This allows improvements in perception, control, or task execution to propagate across multiple systems, effectively linking product iteration to system-level development.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • There are numerous suites in the mix that expand upon the space, and anyone booking an executive category room enjoys access to the 25th-floor club lounge.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
  • Together, the movements reflected an apparent effort to insulate some of Iran's remaining military and aviation assets from the expanding conflict, even as officials publicly served as brokers for de-escalation.
    James LaPorta, CBS News, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • The analytics group says that most Middle East cargoes loaded before the war have now been discharged, meaning the inventory drawdown will accelerate and local refining will slow.
    Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 10 May 2026
  • The figure has really accelerated since 2017, though, driven in a large part by cost—to live a better quality of life at a lower cost and to have access to affordable healthcare and housing in later years.
    Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • Russia soon augmented its capabilities by acquiring Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 loitering munitions from Iran.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
  • Semafor’s journalists helped fill in the gaps by augmenting the readout with reporting that wasn’t captured in the transcript.
    Gina Chua, semafor.com, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • As the teen continued to deteriorate, his right arm began to swell two or three times more than his left, and his wound began leaking fluid.
    Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 12 May 2026
  • During the expedition’s first ten days, the ship navigated a strong storm, with ocean swells reaching two to three metres.
    Akash Kapur, New Yorker, 12 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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