as in increased
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the little problems we ignored began to snowball into huge headaches
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Recent Examples of snowballed
The demonstrations quickly snowballed into a broader anti-government movement calling for the fall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
—
Rebecca Schneid, Time, 18 Jan. 2026
The encouragement has become increasingly important as Kirk's career has rapidly snowballed — and with it, the numbers attached to her work.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Those demonstrations against economic hardship and the regime's appalling financial record snowballed quickly into the nationwide protests against the Islamic Republic's leadership itself.
—Elizabeth Palmer, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
The loss to Tennessee last season snowballed into five straight during Coach John Calipari's first season in Fayetteville.
—Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 2 Jan. 2026
But the system led to a bad start for the sophomore guard making his first career start, and everything snowballed from there.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Such a streak in years past might have snowballed.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
The Minnesota fraud cases have snowballed, and Thompson said more charges are expected.
—Hannah Fingerhut, Twin Cities, 19 Dec. 2025
The passion project snowballed, leading to more products including prototype shorts and t-shirts by mid 2024.
—Andy Wacker, Outside, 14 Dec. 2025
Rebecca Schneid, Time, 18 Jan. 2026
The encouragement has become increasingly important as Kirk's career has rapidly snowballed — and with it, the numbers attached to her work.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
Those demonstrations against economic hardship and the regime's appalling financial record snowballed quickly into the nationwide protests against the Islamic Republic's leadership itself.
—Elizabeth Palmer, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
The loss to Tennessee last season snowballed into five straight during Coach John Calipari's first season in Fayetteville.
—Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 2 Jan. 2026
But the system led to a bad start for the sophomore guard making his first career start, and everything snowballed from there.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Such a streak in years past might have snowballed.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
The Minnesota fraud cases have snowballed, and Thompson said more charges are expected.
—Hannah Fingerhut, Twin Cities, 19 Dec. 2025
The passion project snowballed, leading to more products including prototype shorts and t-shirts by mid 2024.
—Andy Wacker, Outside, 14 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snowballed
Verb
-
That figure is used to determine the league’s cut, which for all local TV deals has since increased from 34% to 48%.—
Maury Brown,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, the average new car payment has increased by $300, or more than 35%, since then to $769.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Anger swelled again in August 2024 after the Detroit Free Press broke the story locally that the landfill was preparing to take 6,000 cubic yards of soil and concrete with elevated radioactivity from the Niagara Falls Storage Site in Lewiston, New York.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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But Peacock’s losses swelled to $552 million in the fourth quarter as the streaming service absorbed the expense of NBC’s NBA TV rights agreement and an exclusive NFL game.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Eagle numbers rose significantly first in the 1990s, then continued to increase.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Alcoholic Sparkling Wines For Valentine’s Day Do Epic Sh*t sparkling wine now comes in a 'pretty in pink' rose as well, available at the end of January 2026.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The result isn’t replaced judgment, but accelerated insight.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Brussels has accelerated its outreach to markets around the world.—
Rajesh Roy,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Global capability centers and captives, particularly in India and other low-cost locations, have expanded rapidly.—
Peter Bendor-Samuel,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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In recent years, the festival has expanded its offerings to attendees, including beers from outside the country, non-alcoholic beers, ciders and even some hard liquors.—
Jesse Sarles,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snowballed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snowballed. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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