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
So, a balance that may have started small has snowballed into something far more serious for millions of borrowers.
—
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
The bombardment of political questions in each and every media meet only snowballed from there on.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
But soon enough, the attention snowballed into scandal.
—Amanda Montell, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
Veterans could cite pre-2020 examples of films that arrived without buzz, made an impact at their premiere, and snowballed into must-see titles by their second public screening.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026
The Senators’ idea snowballed so quickly that OPH members only learned they were involved through social media.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
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 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
Such a streak in years past might have snowballed.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
The bombardment of political questions in each and every media meet only snowballed from there on.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
But soon enough, the attention snowballed into scandal.
—Amanda Montell, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
Veterans could cite pre-2020 examples of films that arrived without buzz, made an impact at their premiere, and snowballed into must-see titles by their second public screening.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026
The Senators’ idea snowballed so quickly that OPH members only learned they were involved through social media.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
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 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
Such a streak in years past might have snowballed.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snowballed
Verb
-
Premium news outlets aimed specifically at major investors and other serious financial institutions have increased significantly in recent years as media companies have looked to cater to premium advertisers and subscribers.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
As the sales increased, so did Pim's box goal.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The scandal swelled again after the DOJ released photos in January that appeared to show Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling over a woman or girl lying on the floor.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The Cowgirls could manage only three free throws in the third period and Allen’s lead swelled to 31-17 going into the fourth quarter.—
Ishmael Johnson,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Palmerston, the black and white feline who rose from the streets of London to the hallowed halls of Britain’s Foreign Office, has died in Bermuda, London’s foreign ministry said Monday.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
But Duvall rose to prominence the next decade, first as the ornery Major Frank Burns in the 1970 antiwar comedy M*A*S*H, reuniting with Robert Altman, who’d previously cast him in 1967’s Countdown.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The series adds to a growing wave of Iberian co-productions leveraging talent and locations from both countries, a trend that has accelerated as Spanish and Portuguese producers increasingly look to pool resources and expand their reach globally.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
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The January raid reshaped the balance of power in the country and accelerated changes to its most important economic asset.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Initially created to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, the board has since expanded to address conflicts worldwide.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
In 1998, the firm expanded into furniture with Mario Bellini’s revolutionary Bellini chair, which was awarded the prestigious Compasso d’Oro design award in 2001.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snowballed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snowballed. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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