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increase

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb increase contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of increase are augment, enlarge, and multiply. While all these words mean "to make or become greater," increase used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition.

his waistline increased with age
increased her landholdings

When would augment be a good substitute for increase?

The words augment and increase are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed.

the inheritance augmented his fortune

In what contexts can enlarge take the place of increase?

While in some cases nearly identical to increase, enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity.

enlarged the kitchen

Where would multiply be a reasonable alternative to increase?

The words multiply and increase can be used in similar contexts, but multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process.

with each attempt the problems multiplied

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of increase
Verb
Tacoma did its own analysis and found that people with a regular housing voucher, and no time limit, actually fared better at increasing their incomes and moving on. Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 7 June 2025 Mahan won his first term as mayor in 2022 with 51.3% of the vote after residents pushed to move the mayoral election to align with the presidential one to increase voter turnout. Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2025
Noun
Hazen and colleagues speculate that complex forms of carbon such as graphene might form in the hydrocarbon-rich environment of Saturn’s moon Titan—another example of an increase in functional information that doesn’t involve life. Philip Ball, Wired News, 8 June 2025 The Congressional Budget Office has said the bill would lead to an increase of $2.4 trillion in total deficits over the next 10 years, a figure Trump has disputed. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for increase
Recent Examples of Synonyms for increase
Verb
  • Iran’s nuclear program accelerated after the breakdown of the 2015 nuclear agreement which halted international inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
    Natasha Lindstaedt, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
  • The state both increased funding for special education and accelerated by one year the commitment to fully funding the Education Cost Sharing formula, through which most state aid for local education flows.
    Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • This could further exacerbate the challenges facing first-time homebuyers in the state, who are struggling to get on the property ladder due to historically high mortgage rates, rising prices, and growing housing costs.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
  • Keeler isn’t the first Notre Dame graduate to rise in the Navy ranks.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • At Buena Nota Bakery & Coffee Shop, a caffeine boost is anything but ordinary.
    Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2025
  • Colorado has around 584,000 SNAP recipients —10 percent of its population — all of whom are eligible for the boost.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • Hutchens said the house at 303 E. Rogers St. is in a state of disrepair and problems have included the accumulation of trash and rubbish, nonpayment of water bills and numerous cleanup notices.
    Lynn Kutter, Arkansas Online, 6 June 2025
  • But political disputes about the accumulation of debt and difficulties raising the limit led credit-rating agencies to lower their grades for the federal government.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • This season, the hotel has also expanded with the renovation of a neighboring building, unveiling 25 new rooms each designed around an outdoor patio with sea views.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 8 June 2025
  • Stablecoins are often treated as satellites of U.S. monetary policy—dollar proxies that expand liquidity and shore up Treasury demand.
    Jemma Green, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • Such symptoms may include: itchy mouth, swelling of the skin, especially lips and eyes, skin rash with hives, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, coughing, asthma symptoms, light headedness, passing out and more.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025
  • Before the performance came to a close, Khalifa was overcome with emotion as his tear ducts began to swell.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 10 June 2025
Noun
  • During the hearing, Hegseth is widely expected to dodge many of the specifics on the military's spending blueprint, which has not been released, and instead highlight recent gains in recruiting numbers and new technology initiatives in the Army.
    Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 10 June 2025
  • They are seen as disruptive, aggressive and focused solely on short-term gains.
    Alexander Savin, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Verb
  • Anthropic sees this as an example of how AI can augment human work, not replace it.
    Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • The new clubhouse/pro shop is set to be approximately 10,000 square feet and feature a year-round restaurant augmented by a dining room, sports bar, event space, terrace and multi-sport simulators.
    Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Increase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/increase. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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