as in to broaden
to increase the width, breadth, or scope of
Immediate action to widen the highway is needed to ease the near constant congestion. The authorities planned to widen their investigation into Ponzi scheme.
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Recent Examples of widen
The $1 billion undertaking aims to streamline traffic and reduce reliance on local streets by rebuilding roads, widening lanes and making new flyover ramps.
—
Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
The split is widening across incomes.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2026
Some market analysts believe a share sale could risk widening mortgage spreads and raising mortgage rates – an outcome Bessent has repeatedly emphasized would not be acceptable to the administration.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Now the inquiry into Mountbatten-Windsor seems to be widening.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for widen
Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
The split is widening across incomes.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2026
Some market analysts believe a share sale could risk widening mortgage spreads and raising mortgage rates – an outcome Bessent has repeatedly emphasized would not be acceptable to the administration.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Now the inquiry into Mountbatten-Windsor seems to be widening.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for widen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for widen
Verb
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Every major art-world institution participated in the Bicentennial, with most producing sweeping exhibitions of varying quality that aimed to broaden their audiences.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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The growing use of facial recognition has broadened concerns about accuracy and bias.—
Vijayan Asari,
The Conversation,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The deal with Curry, who is a household name in China, is expected to further boost Li-Ning’s popularity in the country and help expand the brand’s market share in the US.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
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By greatly expanding the dimensions of his images, with their muted palettes, tight cropping, found symmetries, and laconic wit, had the maestro of the photographic epigram betrayed his subtractive aesthetic?—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Verb
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As climate pressures intensify, biodiversity shrinks and consumers demand more transparency, the push to preserve older grain varieties and livestock breeds is reshaping what shows up in grocery aisles and on restaurant menus.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
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Climate models predict a continued, long-term decline of snowpack as the effects of climate change intensify.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Widen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/widen. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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