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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That ability moves towards leveling the playing field between businesses of different sizes, increases efficiency for all firms, and super charges competition to the benefit of consumers.—
Jessica Melugin,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
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However, higher tick and pest activity during warmer weather increases your dog or cat’s risk of contact.—
Amy DeYoung,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The arch spans 78 feet and rises 65 feet high, drawing hikers eager to experience one of the region’s most striking landmarks.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Summer has already kicked off with beefy surf up and down the coastline, with moderate southern hemisphere swells bringing waves in the 3-to 5-foot range at many spots the past week.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
7 June 2026
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The beach town swells with visitors in the summer, though surfers flock here any time of year for the classic surf break Plage de Lafitenia and big waves surf spot Belharra.—
Anne Olivia Bauso,
Travel + Leisure,
21 May 2026
Verb
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Be sure to stop by the inhalation salt chamber that accelerates skin cell rejuvenation, reduces stress, and promotes better sleep.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
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AlphaFold considerably accelerates that process.—
Jessica Melugin,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, per the CDC, and the risk climbs sharply after menopause.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
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Storms move in Tuesday evening with a marginal threat — 1 on a scale of 5 — for the metro, but the threat climbs to an enhanced level — 3 on a scale of 5 — for the northwestern corner of the state.—
Lisa Meadows,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snowballs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snowballs. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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