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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 The viral nature only multiplied as prominent conservative accounts either commented on the post or reshared the video of the encounter. Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 11 Apr. 2025 Its stock has multiplied more than 16 times in the past decade. Gurufocus, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025 But the humble AeroPress coffee maker has since multiplied. Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 19 Apr. 2025 Calculate the square feet each plant will cover by multiplying 0.67 feet by 0.67 feet, which equals 0.45 square feet per plant. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for multiply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for multiply
Verb
  • An online fundraiser for the women's coalition reproduced a letter from the Archewell Foundation, which the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network, independently verified.
    Sophie Carson, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Consider throwing away: Duplicates of receipts or those records that can be easily reproduced.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be? (1) Infrastructure in forms of roads and increased police and fire due to the growing population.
    Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • What Murray did in the second half was increase his aggression off the dribble.
    Tony Jones, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Iconic sportswear and footwear giant Adidas said Tuesday that the price of all its products will rise in the U.S. due to President Donald Trump's tariffs.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • But merely knowing that housing today is less affordable than in 1950 tells us little about why home prices have risen.
    Caleb Petitt, National Review, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Researchers are also investigating whether coral fragments can be propagated in labs and replanted to restore reefs.
    Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Add to that the fact that the majority of Japanese maples in America are propagated and grown in the Pacific Northwest.
    Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • For 2024, the list was expanded to 450 companies and looked at their emissions between 2020 and 2022.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Capital One is expanding its travel perks, adding exclusive airport lounges, landings (think: snazzy, foodie-forward boutique lounges) and two hotel collections with special benefits.
    Paul Rubio, AFAR Media, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This topic has been brewing for a while, and was accelerated by the injury conversation.
    Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
  • Even then—before the rest of the world went AI-crazy—the CEO of Google DeepMind had a stark warning about the accelerating pace of AI progress.
    Billy Perrigo, Time, 27 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The most successful implementations use technology to augment human capabilities, providing tools that help people work more efficiently rather than avoiding challenges altogether.
    AJ Bubb, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Brynjolfsson, in his Daedalus article, suggested changing the tax system to give businesses more incentive to invest in technology that augments labor rather than replaces it.
    John Cassidy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • One patient had brain swelling and developed a cyst caused by radiation.
    Frieda Klotz, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Almost 4 in 10 Americans said neither party is fighting for people like them, as pessimism for both major parties swells, according to a survey released Friday.
    Filip Timotija, The Hill, 25 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Multiply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/multiply. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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