as in increasing
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 snowballing
Building momentum and snowballing your income is always satisfying.
—
Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The rise of instax cameras Fujifilm’s instax camera is snowballing in popularity.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Are HOAs required to first apply payments to prior outstanding assessments, or can payments first be applied to current dues assessments hence avoid snowballing late fees?
—Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
The project — and Roan’s career, for that matter — has been steadily snowballing since its release in September 2023, with the star finishing out 2024 as Billboard‘s Top New Artist.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024
The ability to breach one algorithm may also indicate that similar algorithms could be compromised, snowballing this potential crisis across data security providers worldwide.
—Jason McNutt, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
The rise of instax cameras Fujifilm’s instax camera is snowballing in popularity.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Are HOAs required to first apply payments to prior outstanding assessments, or can payments first be applied to current dues assessments hence avoid snowballing late fees?
—Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
The project — and Roan’s career, for that matter — has been steadily snowballing since its release in September 2023, with the star finishing out 2024 as Billboard‘s Top New Artist.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024
The ability to breach one algorithm may also indicate that similar algorithms could be compromised, snowballing this potential crisis across data security providers worldwide.
—Jason McNutt, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snowballing
Verb
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Many are pulling six-day work weeks with mandatory overtime, and increasing numbers have begun calling out as the financial strain and exhaustion mount.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
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The military is striking the boats at the same time the administration is applying increasing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.—
NPR,
NPR,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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There are trade-offs, of course—rising Obamacare premiums will harm people, too.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
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Both consultants estimated that inflation in Caracas is currently running between 20% and 30% a month and is destined to keep rising as long as the bolivar depreciation continues.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Dark energy was introduced as a placeholder force to explain this accelerating expansion.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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The expansion rate of the universe may be slowing down, rather than accelerating at an ever-growing rate, a potentially groundbreaking new study has hinted.—
Ian Randall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Per BrightOcular, potential complications include infections, high pressure in the eye, glaucoma, inflammation of the iris, swelling in the cornea, loss of cells around the cornea, deterioration of the iris and more.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Arthritis refers to swelling in the joints.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The concept is expanding into practice in the state as a solution to regional food distribution challenges.—
Cristina LaRue,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
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Future work will focus on integrating snow-deposition modeling with PV yield simulations to more accurately predict energy losses and on expanding analyses to more complex, uneven alpine terrain.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Snowballing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snowballing. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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