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
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
Drop waists of the Art Deco era also proliferated at Chanel, Marni, and Rabanne.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2026
For years, the industry has proliferated across the country after the 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
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
Drop waists of the Art Deco era also proliferated at Chanel, Marni, and Rabanne.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2026
For years, the industry has proliferated across the country after the 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proliferated
Verb
-
The agency late last year also increased the number of citable violations from five — including fare evasion, eating or drinking onboard, smoking, or incorrectly using a discount ticket — to 25.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities have increased 91% — from 78 in 2015 to 149 in 2025.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Formed in 1949, the alliance initially included 12 countries, but has swelled to 32 members.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
But this winter, despite the thin and vanishing snowpack, the Black River swelled.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His play on the field has only accelerated his rise.—
PJ Green
April 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
-
When officers attempted to catch up, the driver, identified as a 19-year-old, allegedly accelerated away from police.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Liability protections for officers and directors were also expanded.—
Evonne Andris,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Under the leadership of former CEOs, including the late Thomas Storrs and Hugh McColl, Gentry was part of a team that expanded the bank far beyond North Carolina’s border.—
Chase Jordan
April 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Charlotte home prices rose slightly in February compared to the same time last year, although certain neighborhoods had significant swings up or down, according to the latest data from the real estate site Redfin.—
Chase Jordan
April 7,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Utah is at the heart of what’s been called the Sagebrush Rebellion, which rose during the Reagan era to challenge the prevailing management of federal lands, and, indeed, the entire idea of federal lands.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Filling federal tax returns late — or not at all — also results in a penalty of 5% of the tax due, multiplied by 5% per month, the IRS said.—
Alexiah Syrai Olsen,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
But imagine that multiplied across many workforces right now.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Proliferated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proliferated. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
