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as in to reproduce
to bring forth offspring rabbits multiply with proverbial rapidity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb multiply contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of multiply are augment, enlarge, and increase. While all these words mean "to make or become greater," multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process.

with each attempt the problems multiplied

When is it sensible to use augment instead of multiply?

The meanings of augment and multiply largely overlap; however, augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed.

the inheritance augmented his fortune

When would enlarge be a good substitute for multiply?

The synonyms enlarge and multiply are sometimes interchangeable, but enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity.

enlarged the kitchen

When could increase be used to replace multiply?

The words increase and multiply can be used in similar contexts, but 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

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 multiply Antiviral medications stop the virus from multiplying in the body and lower the risk of serious illness. Lindsay Curtis, Health, 22 May 2025 No one understands this principle better than President George Gresham of New York’s massive SEIU 1199 — who was a key player in multiplying both the total number of Medicaid enrollees and the total cost to state and federal taxpayers per enrollee. Mark Mix, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025 In Madden's cooking club, for example, students practice math by adding, subtracting and multiplying for recipes. Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 27 May 2025 But in Season 3 (which was primarily based on the fourth book of Jordan’s series, The Shadow Rising), the threats against the Light multiplied. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for multiply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for multiply
Verb
  • Zinnias are annual flowers—their life goal is to reproduce.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 7 June 2025
  • However, if there are errors in the data or methods of the original study, being able to reproduce its results may only ensure consistency but not scientific rigor.
    H. Christopher Frey, The Conversation, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Verb
  • In the first half of the 1950s, vodka sales exploded, rising from 40,000 cases in 1950 to over 4 million by 1955.
    Time, Time, 4 June 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • While easy to propagate from a cutting, rosemary varies in hardiness.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
  • Sipping sundowners at the glamorous beach clubs that propagate the sandy shores and cliffside hideouts along the French Riviera really shouldn’t take much convincing, but with so many charming seaside cities and villages to explore, deciding where to stay can be a challenge.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • Trump’s memo will go into the history books as a moment when presidential power expanded to put under his control a military force aimed at U.S. civilians.
    Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
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
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

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Cite this Entry

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

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