as in increases
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
rumors about the incident proliferated on the Internet
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Recent Examples of proliferates
The partnership between the HR leaders and top technologists like the CTO and chief information officer has become much more critical as AI usage proliferates across the workplace.
—
John Kell, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
This type of scam proliferates around the holidays, when consumers make more online purchases and shippers deal with higher-than-normal volumes of packages, Visa notes.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2025
Backed by Celebrands — the firm also behind Halsey’s About-face color line — ‘Ôrebella has quickly established itself among the standout celebrity beauty brands of its time as the category proliferates.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
As violence in schools proliferates in the United States, so too has the marketplace for products designed to protect students.
—Tonya Simpson, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
Misinformation proliferates both online and off.
—Stacie Kershner, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
Vibrio proliferates during heavy rains and floods.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 15 Aug. 2025
John Kell, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
This type of scam proliferates around the holidays, when consumers make more online purchases and shippers deal with higher-than-normal volumes of packages, Visa notes.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2025
Backed by Celebrands — the firm also behind Halsey’s About-face color line — ‘Ôrebella has quickly established itself among the standout celebrity beauty brands of its time as the category proliferates.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
As violence in schools proliferates in the United States, so too has the marketplace for products designed to protect students.
—Tonya Simpson, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
Misinformation proliferates both online and off.
—Stacie Kershner, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
Vibrio proliferates during heavy rains and floods.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proliferates
Verb
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Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals Eating larger meals packed with fiber can be more difficult for the digestive tract to break down, and increases the likelihood of gas and bloating.—
Pamela Assid Woughter,
Verywell Health,
25 Feb. 2026
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This increases processing costs and reduces the effectiveness and efficiency of the recycling program.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Long-wavelength gravity anomalies are fingerprints of interior dynamics — clues to how heat escapes a planet, how dense material sinks and how buoyant material rises.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
25 Feb. 2026
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An overnight stakeout on a deserted winter beach, a mystery creature ripping line for close to an hour, an angler refusing to quit, and then the moment a drone rises over the water and delivers the answer.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Alarm over health harms accelerates Concern over the risks of flame retardants, heavy metals, pesticides and endocrine-disrupting chemicals that mimic hormones in the body has been growing as more studies point to serious health impacts.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
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As this trend accelerates, Imax becomes an increasingly valuable player.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The love expands, the circle widens, the tradition shifts.—
Natasha Pickowicz,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
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Last month, Illinois took a major step forward with the signing of the Clean Slate Act (HB 1836), a bipartisan law that expands opportunity and strengthens Illinois’ economy.—
Curtis Reed,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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If inspiration swells later, let heart and practicality share the lead.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
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Small craft should exercise caution near inlets due to long period swells, according to NWS Melbourne.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Back in Kevin Malone mode, Baumgartner multiplies many times over during a busy workday in a visual demonstration of the product that financial tech sponsor Ramp is selling.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Feb. 2026
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The risk of harmful drug interactions, duplicate therapies, or dangerous dosing errors multiplies exponentially when the pharmacist’s role as patient advocate in health care is diminished.—
Ryan N. Hansen,
STAT,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Proliferates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proliferates. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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