snowballing

verb

present participle of snowball
as in increasing
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number the little problems we ignored began to snowball into huge headaches

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 snowballing But efforts in the greater Charlotte area have been snowballing since last fall, with Cornelius overhauling its ordinance in November and Waxhaw and Davidson following suit in February. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026 Over the proceeding year and a half, snowballing AI hype has sent valuations in the space soaring to spectacular new heights. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 25 June 2026 But just as his mistakes were snowballing downhill, Willis rebounded from one pick and another dropped interception to make what was probably his best throw of the day. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2026 The codebase becomes harder and harder to manage, so technical debt begins snowballing. — Sebastian Avila, Forbes.com, 5 Mar. 2026 The Mandelson revelations have dominated British media for days, snowballing into one of the country’s biggest political scandals this century. — Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026 This kind of transparency builds safety and keeps small issues from snowballing into resentments. — Molly Burrets, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026 But the problem began snowballing only late last month, when Grok seemingly granted a large number of user requests to modify images posted by others. — Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026 The result, advocates and doctors say, is that babies with certain genetic diseases are diagnosed only after symptoms start snowballing. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snowballing
  1. increasing
  2. rising
  3. accelerating
  4. swelling
  5. expanding
Verb
  • Future development will focus on improving their autonomy, increasing operating speeds, and enabling them to work alongside humans with less supervision.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Dangerously large breaking waves can overpower swimmers, pulling people into the sea from beaches, jetties, and rocks resulting in significant physical injury and increasing the risk of drowning.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of increasing
Verb
  • Amid rising French sovereign debt pressures and inflation remaining above target, such continuity could reduce market anxieties over abrupt policy shifts while mitigating potential volatility across European bond markets.
    — , CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
  • With anxieties rising across the land, the couple’s relationship begins to fracture when Sovieshu falls in love with runaway slave Rashta (Lee Seyoung) and attempts to move heaven and earth to win her heart.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of rising
Verb
  • The company also credited Gemini 4 Argon with accelerating the development of its new robotics model.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2026
  • In June, Delta Air Lines pilots aborted their approach for landing at Boston Logan International Airport as an American Airlines flight was accelerating for takeoff on an intersecting runway.
    — Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of accelerating
Verb
  • Grimes was questionable for Wednesday’s game, but still had swelling, Redick said, which could have affected the right-handed guard’s shooting.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026
  • In the six months before the family left their home in Wesley Chapel, Florida, concerns escalated when Silas was hospitalized with parotitis (swelling of the salivary glands located over the jaw) and cellulitis (skin infection).
    — Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of swelling
Verb
  • Those options reportedly include tighter economic sanctions and expanding restrictions on Iranian trade.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • At a hearing last week, as Assembly committee discussed measures including eliminating the $750 million cap, allowing above-the-line expenses, expanding eligibility, and extending the sunset date.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of expanding

Browse Nearby Words

snowballed
snowballing
snowballs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Snowballing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snowballing. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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