as in increases
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the little problems we ignored began to snowball into huge headaches
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of snowballs
That metaphysical connection soon snowballs into a mounting existential threat when Mia (Sophie Wilde) allows her best friend's eager little brother to have one round with the hand, after which his body is never the same.
—
Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Sometimes that snowballs for a defense.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
That then snowballs into a full-length feature Hollywood horror film.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Feb. 2022
Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Sometimes that snowballs for a defense.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
That then snowballs into a full-length feature Hollywood horror film.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Feb. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snowballs
Verb
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This increases your visibility to potential rescuers.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a letter that a rearview image that doesn’t display properly reduces the driver’s view behind the vehicle, which increases the risk of a crash.—
Michelle Chapman,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The 2025 standard deduction rises to $15,750 from $14,600 for single filers, $23,625 from $21,900 for head of household filers, and $31,500 from $29,200 for married filing jointly filers.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
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In this moment the show all at once connects to its past, present and future — and once again rises to Heaviside heights.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Massachusetts lawmaker is part of a growing chorus of voices in Washington calling for stronger oversight of these betting platforms as interest swells.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2026
-
His longing swells beyond love into obsession.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Strategic opportunity, legal risk Environmental groups say the risks extend beyond criminal financing to broader ecological destruction if foreign investment accelerates extraction.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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This will be done while continuously aligning skills, roles, and work as change accelerates.—
Nickle LaMoreaux,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The imagery climbs to the ceiling, transforming a transitional space into a moment of theater.—
Andrew Sessa,
Robb Report,
5 Apr. 2026
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The Wushan Goddess Elevator is 905 meters long, or nearly 3,000 feet, according to state media, and climbs the height of an 80-story building.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snowballs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snowballs. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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