as in increased
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
rumors about the incident proliferated on the Internet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 proliferated
However, misinformation about fluoride's safety has proliferated.
—
ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Travel on local routes proliferated, and air travel was quickly transformed from a luxury for deep-pocket elites into a nearly everyday indulgence.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Within about a month, a lineage of Oceanospirillales microbes proliferated, feasting on cyclohexane.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
As switches proliferated, the gun safety campaign group Everytown lobbied individual American cities to bring litigation against Glock.
—Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
Ketamine treatment clinics have proliferated following the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the drug as a remedy for acute depression in 2019, leading to a Wild West of infusion clinics that have expanded treatment access for many Americans without much regulation.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 1 Apr. 2026
Social media proliferated with photos of roadside protests with people wrapped in scarves and hats to stand outside in the snow and below-freezing temperatures.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Thanks to Clavicular, a young, fringe manosphere influencer, this term—and others modeled after it—has proliferated.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
After the First World War, Presbyterian schools for both boys and girls proliferated, the most famous of which were the American College of Tehran for boys, established in 1925, and Iran Bethel School for girls.
—Daniel Thomas Potts, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Travel on local routes proliferated, and air travel was quickly transformed from a luxury for deep-pocket elites into a nearly everyday indulgence.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
Within about a month, a lineage of Oceanospirillales microbes proliferated, feasting on cyclohexane.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
As switches proliferated, the gun safety campaign group Everytown lobbied individual American cities to bring litigation against Glock.
—Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
Ketamine treatment clinics have proliferated following the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the drug as a remedy for acute depression in 2019, leading to a Wild West of infusion clinics that have expanded treatment access for many Americans without much regulation.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 1 Apr. 2026
Social media proliferated with photos of roadside protests with people wrapped in scarves and hats to stand outside in the snow and below-freezing temperatures.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026
Thanks to Clavicular, a young, fringe manosphere influencer, this term—and others modeled after it—has proliferated.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
After the First World War, Presbyterian schools for both boys and girls proliferated, the most famous of which were the American College of Tehran for boys, established in 1925, and Iran Bethel School for girls.
—Daniel Thomas Potts, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proliferated
Verb
-
The stopout population keeps growing overall, even as annual stopouts have declined and reenrollment has increased, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Overtime increased by 65% between 2019 and 2024 alone, the study said.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In 2024, the value of Asymmetric’s liquid book swelled from roughly $195 million to $395 million, a person familiar with the firm’s finances told Fortune.—
Jack Kubinec,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The Cybertruck’s angular design was divisive, and the attention-grabbing vehicle occasionally became the target of ridicule and vandalism when a backlash against Musk swelled last year.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The rise of white-collar work made a college degree the expected path, and offshoring and free trade agreements through the turn of the century only accelerated that shift, leaving trade roles increasingly scarce.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Demand accelerated after the 2007–08 financial crisis, as money managers sought more sophisticated risk analysis tools.—
byDebbie Carlson,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most eateries have expanded outdoor seating.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The candy’s original logo had three balloons to represent Airheads' first three flavors — cherry, watermelon and strawberry — but as the company expanded the varieties, it was changed to a balloon mascot, known as Oscar.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The consumer price index rose by a slower-than-expected 1% from a year ago, as domestic demand remained under pressure.—
Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
-
In other dealings, gold and silver prices rose on Tuesday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And over time, with two kids now in the mix, the complexity of family life multiplied.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Moffett’s restaurant group has multiplied with Italian eatery Stagioni, its sister cocktail bar Sala, and a ramen-and-bun shop called Bao and Broth.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Proliferated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proliferated. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
