as in broadening
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 widening
So, in a general process of professionalization that changed the way that music was experienced, raising standards while widening the gap between expert and amateur, the mandolin fell out of fashion.
—
Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
Across the region, the widening trade deficits and rising inflation expectations feel reminiscent of the Asian financial crisis that began in 1997.
—Anniek Bao,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Construction crews will be widening a two-mile stretch of Avondale-Haslet Road over the next two years as part of a larger project aimed at creating a continuous east-west thoroughfare in far north Fort Worth.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
The widening war in the Middle East has severely disrupted their livelihoods, with some migrant workers also reported killed or injured in airstrikes.
—Max Burman, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
America’s democratic institutions are failing to hold the center, and the gap is widening.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Two polls published last week showed Hungary’s center-right Tisza party widening its lead over Orban’s ruling Fidesz party ahead of the April 12 parliamentary election, although a large share of voters remained undecided.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
His recent work has examined the impacts of drought, threats to public lands and wildlife, and the nation’s widening rural-urban divide.
—Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
The city is widening its entertainment zone to include the whole downtown area, rather than just the promenade.
—CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Tim Parks, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2026
Across the region, the widening trade deficits and rising inflation expectations feel reminiscent of the Asian financial crisis that began in 1997.
—Anniek Bao,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Construction crews will be widening a two-mile stretch of Avondale-Haslet Road over the next two years as part of a larger project aimed at creating a continuous east-west thoroughfare in far north Fort Worth.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
The widening war in the Middle East has severely disrupted their livelihoods, with some migrant workers also reported killed or injured in airstrikes.
—Max Burman, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
America’s democratic institutions are failing to hold the center, and the gap is widening.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Two polls published last week showed Hungary’s center-right Tisza party widening its lead over Orban’s ruling Fidesz party ahead of the April 12 parliamentary election, although a large share of voters remained undecided.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
His recent work has examined the impacts of drought, threats to public lands and wildlife, and the nation’s widening rural-urban divide.
—Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
The city is widening its entertainment zone to include the whole downtown area, rather than just the promenade.
—CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for widening
Verb
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The move also coincides with the brand’s broadening consumer base.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
13 Apr. 2026
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His initial goals included improving transparency and governance, expanding the number of teams in the FIFA World Cup, increasing funding for member associations’ development, and broadening the number of competitions.—
Sanat Pai Raikar,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The executive director of Fisherman's Wharf Community Benefit District provided a statement, saying the wharf is evolving, new businesses are opening, and the area is expanding in ways that make Fisherman's Wharf more accessible and engaging.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
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These are jobs not created, customers not served, communities that don’t reap the benefits of expanding local business.—
Walter Rowen,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Israeli officials and military leaders have recently sounded the alarm over intensifying violence and lawlessness by extremist settlers in the occupied West Bank, where arsons and deadly attacks have continued unabated.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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The company has faced intensifying competition from TikTok and continues to battle longtime rivals in social media including Instagram and X, formerly Twitter.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Widening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/widening. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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