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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Accessible, affordable childcare alleviates poverty, prevents homelessness, improves employer productivity and retention, increases the tax base, supports small businesses and keeps young families in our communities.—
Susan Ellenberg,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The letter alleges that the Missouri State Tax Commission’s recent orders regarding Jackson County assessments do not discuss credits on 2023 and 2024 tax payments, or the 15% cap on commercial property value increases that LeVota has also implemented.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Nabatieh, Lebanon, April 16, 2026.—
April 16,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Monica rises, and her cobalt raiment slithers behind her down the steps.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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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Investors' attention is now divided between geopolitical developments and earnings season, which accelerates on both sides of the Atlantic this week.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
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The strategy also expands the military's long-range strike capabilities and accelerates the introduction of intergrated air and missile defense systems.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
One fan in a birthday crown and sash climbs a nearby tree to try and get a better view, ignoring security guards and a disgruntled NYPD officer who attempted to get him down.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2026
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When temperatures drop, gas demand climbs, and constrained pipelines that supply the region reach capacity, pushing up electric prices.—
Alex Kuffner,
The Providence Journal,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snowballs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snowballs. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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