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
The administration has not laid out details of either the fraud claims or the widening plan to withhold funds, which was first reported by the New York Post.
—
Geoff Mulvihill, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
When a Black teenager is executed by police on Juneteenth and no evidence remains to contest the official account, CYCLE reveals the widening rift between what the system claims and what a mother’s relentless pursuit of truth exposes.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2026
Harper is tipped off to Tender’s shady dealings by reporter Jim Dycker (Charlie Heaton), widening a foothold in the world of journalism previously established by Henry’s tabloid baron uncle Alexander (Andrew Havill).
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
Your 9th House of Higher Learning marries the life-giving Sun with loving Venus, encouraging you to take an active role in widening your world.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Why the demonstrations started The collapse of the rial has led to a widening economic crisis in Iran.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
Several people have been reported killed amid the widening protests, which started in Tehran on Sunday but have spread to at least 17 of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) published on Wednesday.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2026
That widening gap has been a key driver behind record-high capacity prices, with experts warning that consumers will ultimately pay the difference through multi-year bill impacts.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026
Iran’s nearly week-long protests, sparked by economic despair but quickly widening into demands for broad change, have turned deadly, with multiple human rights groups saying that several people had been killed by security forces.
—Yeganeh Torbati, Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2026
Geoff Mulvihill, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
When a Black teenager is executed by police on Juneteenth and no evidence remains to contest the official account, CYCLE reveals the widening rift between what the system claims and what a mother’s relentless pursuit of truth exposes.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2026
Harper is tipped off to Tender’s shady dealings by reporter Jim Dycker (Charlie Heaton), widening a foothold in the world of journalism previously established by Henry’s tabloid baron uncle Alexander (Andrew Havill).
—Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Jan. 2026
Your 9th House of Higher Learning marries the life-giving Sun with loving Venus, encouraging you to take an active role in widening your world.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Why the demonstrations started The collapse of the rial has led to a widening economic crisis in Iran.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
Several people have been reported killed amid the widening protests, which started in Tehran on Sunday but have spread to at least 17 of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) published on Wednesday.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 3 Jan. 2026
That widening gap has been a key driver behind record-high capacity prices, with experts warning that consumers will ultimately pay the difference through multi-year bill impacts.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 2 Jan. 2026
Iran’s nearly week-long protests, sparked by economic despair but quickly widening into demands for broad change, have turned deadly, with multiple human rights groups saying that several people had been killed by security forces.
—Yeganeh Torbati, Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for widening
Verb
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And according to the sneaker and streetwear retailer, this begins with an evolution of the brand’s loyalty program, broadening the color palette and product assortment available to each of the three tiers.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
9 Jan. 2026
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This week – the first full one of the new year – has shown the broadening trade take flight, as highly cyclical sectors consumer discretionary and materials led the way for the period with a week-to-date gain of more than 5% and more than 4%, respectively.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Over the years, Harold’s Chicken grew far beyond its original location, expanding into a regional brand with restaurants across eight states.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
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Mitsubishi is looking to capitalize on rising power needs from data centers, manufacturing, as well as LNG exports, by expanding in the the world's largest gas market, citing domestic consumption, production, exports, and further demand growth.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The intensifying clash adds another dimension to the fight over Epstein, raising new questions about the limits of congressional power to compel testimony.—
Stephen Groves,
Fortune,
14 Jan. 2026
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Meeks, head of technology research at Freedom Capital Markets, said Nvidia’s funk is a consequence of the fears that began over the summer around circular AI investing, GPU depreciation, and intensifying competition in the chipmaking space from Big Tech peers such as Google and Amazon .—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Widening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/widening. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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