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
Late-night hosts cracked jokes, memes proliferated on the internet, and Steve Carell even starred in a Netflix sitcom about the Star Trek–like operation.
—
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Eclipse Planning Resources Since 2017, online resources for eclipse planners have proliferated.
—Maya Silver, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025
Although many Americans are only just beginning to take notice, indoor climbing gyms have steadily proliferated ever since.
—Kelli María Korducki, HubSpot, 17 Oct. 2025
Dot-com pioneer eBay, which sold its first item (a broken laser pointer) months after Amazon shipped its first book, has lost ground as the competition in e-commerce has proliferated since then.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Murphy has studied early rodeo photography, too, particularly the souvenir postcards that proliferated after the Wild West shows died out and things like Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Pendleton Round-Up took over.
—Casey Cep, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Thus, as Washington began testing the limits of legality at Guantánamo through immigrant detention, lawsuits proliferated.
—Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025
And though the practice may be strongly associated with our friends across the pond, afternoon tea has proliferated quite strongly throughout the good ol’ Big Apple.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
Drug trafficking, wildlife crime, the unregulated migration of workers from Myanmar and other neighboring countries, and cyber-scams have proliferated in these areas.
—Susannah Patton, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Eclipse Planning Resources Since 2017, online resources for eclipse planners have proliferated.
—Maya Silver, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025
Although many Americans are only just beginning to take notice, indoor climbing gyms have steadily proliferated ever since.
—Kelli María Korducki, HubSpot, 17 Oct. 2025
Dot-com pioneer eBay, which sold its first item (a broken laser pointer) months after Amazon shipped its first book, has lost ground as the competition in e-commerce has proliferated since then.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Murphy has studied early rodeo photography, too, particularly the souvenir postcards that proliferated after the Wild West shows died out and things like Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Pendleton Round-Up took over.
—Casey Cep, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Thus, as Washington began testing the limits of legality at Guantánamo through immigrant detention, lawsuits proliferated.
—Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025
And though the practice may be strongly associated with our friends across the pond, afternoon tea has proliferated quite strongly throughout the good ol’ Big Apple.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
Drug trafficking, wildlife crime, the unregulated migration of workers from Myanmar and other neighboring countries, and cyber-scams have proliferated in these areas.
—Susannah Patton, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proliferated
Verb
-
Just as the group’s base as increased to more than 100 people, its gatherings have evolved too beyond BTS visits to the Met.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Since the governor announced the proposal in August, the measure has only increased in popularity among Democrats — receiving support from former President Barack Obama and others.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In addition, Brooks accelerated global expansion efforts, growing year-to-date revenue by 23 percent in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)and 82 percent in APLA (Asia Pacific and Latin America) when compared with year-ago levels.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
3 Nov. 2025
-
In contrast, China and South Korea have grown increasingly at odds as China's technological advancement accelerated.—
Se Eun Gong,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But as the Chiefs’ lead swelled in the second half, Washington abandoned the run.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Flat or oddly shaped sides mean the arils inside the fruit have swelled with juice, transforming the fruit's form.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Since then, the social media star has expanded her participation in her hobby tenfold.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
However, if these expanded incentives come through, the Stage 32 program could mean that there’s a ready-to-go crew base in Florida for when production does ramp up again.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Buyers don’t want to be reminded of strong perfumes that resurface certain memories when touring a home, so rose scents of any kind should only be enjoyed after a homeowner is done touring their property.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Expectations further rose over the course of the president’s trip to Asia, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, with the hopes that the deal would produce more than just a low-key touchpoint between the two world leaders.—
Betsy Klein,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Her ticket matched four white balls in the drawing, winning her a $50,000 prize that was multiplied to $100,000 because of the Power Play option.—
Tanya Wildt,
Freep.com,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The Pew analysis uses the refined divorce rate, which is the number of divorces divided by the number of married women ages 15 and older, multiplied by 1,000, rather than the overall divorce rate, which measures divorces per 1,000 women regardless of their marital status.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Proliferated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proliferated. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share