as in increased
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
rumors about the incident proliferated on the Internet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 proliferated
Drop waists of the Art Deco era also proliferated at Chanel, Marni, and Rabanne.
—
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2026
For years, the industry has proliferated across the country after the 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Solar power proliferated in Indiana last year, despite roadblocks threatening the industry's future in the state.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
These concerns are heightened as reports of overcrowding and lack of food in detention centers across the nation have proliferated.
—Eric Westervelt, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026
Micron manufactures the high-bandwidth memory chips needed to train and run large language models and other AI systems that have proliferated since the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 21 Mar. 2026
Basij checkpoints have proliferated across Tehran, often just a line of traffic cones and a few vehicles.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Its use has spread and appears to have proliferated into several related versions affecting people in Ukraine, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
The scams proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when casinos, many already engaged in the gray-area activity of online gambling, no longer had in-person customers and turned to online scams on an industrial scale.
—ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2026
For years, the industry has proliferated across the country after the 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp.
—Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Solar power proliferated in Indiana last year, despite roadblocks threatening the industry's future in the state.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
These concerns are heightened as reports of overcrowding and lack of food in detention centers across the nation have proliferated.
—Eric Westervelt, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026
Micron manufactures the high-bandwidth memory chips needed to train and run large language models and other AI systems that have proliferated since the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 21 Mar. 2026
Basij checkpoints have proliferated across Tehran, often just a line of traffic cones and a few vehicles.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Its use has spread and appears to have proliferated into several related versions affecting people in Ukraine, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
The scams proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when casinos, many already engaged in the gray-area activity of online gambling, no longer had in-person customers and turned to online scams on an industrial scale.
—ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proliferated
Verb
-
Airport security lines increased, some stretching multiple hours in hubs such as Houston and Atlanta, as TSA officers called out and hundreds across the country quit.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
JetBlue increased the fees as airlines maneuver to cover their rising jet fuel costs, which have soared since the Iran war began.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Formed in 1949, the alliance initially included 12 countries, but has swelled to 32 members.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
But this winter, despite the thin and vanishing snowpack, the Black River swelled.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The decline has accelerated sharply in recent weeks, with net approval dropping roughly 5 points over a short span.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Not everything should be accelerated equally.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The war in Iran and the ensuing collapse in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has driven more cargo to Pakistani ports and effectively expanded their role in wider trade throughout South and Southeast Asia.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
To help financially vulnerable property owners get through taxes, Bristol offers senior volunteer tax credits and senior circuit-breaker programs, and has expanded its veterans tax exemptions.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Once North Carolina fired Hubert Davis after five seasons, Billy Donovan immediately rose to the top of the list of favorites to become the next head coach of the storied program.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
While consumers worldwide face steep price hikes, Brazilian gasoline prices rose just 5% in March — compared to 30% in the United States.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Small changes in code multiplied over many buildings can indeed save large amounts of energy in the long run with thicker insulation, tighter building envelopes and better HVAC systems.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Genes for pumping sodium multiplied, to purge excess salt.—
David George Haskell,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Proliferated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proliferated. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
