as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
rumors about the incident proliferated on the Internet
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Recent Examples of proliferate
Thanks to an exceptionally wet December, death cap mushrooms — or Amanita phalloides — have proliferated along the Central Coast and in Northern California.
—
Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Myriad small-scale efforts of mutual aid and support have proliferated.
—Harry Boyte, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Cases are proliferating in a Mexican state that borders Texas, with the pest having escaped containment by an international eradication program that banished it for decades.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
But in America, backroom deals, cronyism, and countless middle players proliferate in the dark and drive costs into the stratosphere.
—Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for proliferate
Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Myriad small-scale efforts of mutual aid and support have proliferated.
—Harry Boyte, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Cases are proliferating in a Mexican state that borders Texas, with the pest having escaped containment by an international eradication program that banished it for decades.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
But in America, backroom deals, cronyism, and countless middle players proliferate in the dark and drive costs into the stratosphere.
—Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for proliferate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proliferate
Verb
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The concern is not only the surge in killings, but the increasing brazenness with which they are carried out.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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For example, rising temperatures have direct harms on health by increasing risk of dehydration and causing more stress on the heart.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That leads to high temperatures, which create a glowing protostar due to the rapid (kinetic) motion of the internal gas particles, and eventually, after a few tens of millions of years, the core temperatures rise high enough (above 4 million K or so) that nuclear fusion of hydrogen begins.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
6 Feb. 2026
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The information will be incorporated into the NEMO ocean model, which forms part of the UK Earth System Model, improving predictions as polar ice loss accelerates with rising global temperatures.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The event saw several European leaders and policymakers reiterate the need for greater defense spending to accelerate the continent's strategic autonomy, with discussions of a common nuclear shield.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
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Its members are pushing legislation to accelerate encampment sweeps and eliminate a longstanding local requirement that the city offer shelter to residents when forcing them to move.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Integrating unmanned logistics The Army continues to expand its use of unmanned systems across air and ground domains.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
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However, according to a draft of its charter, its mission has since expanded to address conflicts worldwide.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The arrival of the ATM famously led to the employment of more bank tellers, just as the introduction of Excel swelled the ranks of accountants and Photoshop spiked demand for graphic designers.—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
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When bleeding or swelling inside one of these compartments builds up, pressure rises and begins to squeeze the muscles, nerves and blood vessels.—
Michal Ruprecht,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These imprints multiply extremely quickly.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
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The result was a tiara of great height and presence, with floral motifs and mobile elements that allow the stones to vibrate slightly with movement, multiplying their brilliance.—
Marta Martínez Tato,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Over 12 years of eligibility, this could accumulate to more than €1,440 ($1,700) per child, not counting the potential investment gains from compounding interest over the decade.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
16 Feb. 2026
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Currently, the odds favor areas north of the Massachusetts Turnpike for accumulating snow with mainly rain or a rain/snow mix south of the Pike.—
Terry Eliasen,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Proliferate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proliferate. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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