as in increasing
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
rumors about the incident proliferated on the Internet
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Recent Examples of proliferating
Four years ago, stickers of then-President Joe Biden began proliferating at gas stations nationwide as the cost of gasoline soared.
—
John Aguilar, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
No matter what happens next, the war underscores the volatility inherent to the global fossil fuel trade at a time when alternative technologies are proliferating.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Young people take new shine to tanning And there are indications that tanning is making a comeback among teens and young adults, inspired by the melange of health and wellness content proliferating on social media and TikTok.
—Will Stone, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026
If it is now widely accepted that truthful portrayals of war are both technically and morally impossible, what are artists still obligated to picture in this moment when war is proliferating across the globe?
—Hanlu Zhang, Artforum, 10 Mar. 2026
Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.
—The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
Indeed, this proliferation of formats aligns with the proliferating number of steps in consumers’ fragrance routines.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 9 Feb. 2026
Cases are proliferating in a Mexican state that borders Texas, with the pest having escaped containment by an international eradication program that banished it for decades.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
John Aguilar, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
No matter what happens next, the war underscores the volatility inherent to the global fossil fuel trade at a time when alternative technologies are proliferating.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Young people take new shine to tanning And there are indications that tanning is making a comeback among teens and young adults, inspired by the melange of health and wellness content proliferating on social media and TikTok.
—Will Stone, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026
If it is now widely accepted that truthful portrayals of war are both technically and morally impossible, what are artists still obligated to picture in this moment when war is proliferating across the globe?
—Hanlu Zhang, Artforum, 10 Mar. 2026
Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.
—The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
Indeed, this proliferation of formats aligns with the proliferating number of steps in consumers’ fragrance routines.
—Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 9 Feb. 2026
Cases are proliferating in a Mexican state that borders Texas, with the pest having escaped containment by an international eradication program that banished it for decades.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proliferating
Verb
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The film is set in a mountain village where an elderly woman named Hettie (Hettie Farmer) lives alone on a small farm, tending her flock of goats with increasing difficulty.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
New York City Councilwoman Farah Louis is under increasing scrutiny amid a federal public corruption investigation involving the state’s homeless shelters for migrants.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On his goal, Thomas swooped into the middle lane to dust McTavish and receive a slick feed from Broberg that sent him toward a vulnerable Dostál with speed for a rising shot.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
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Will the retirement age keep rising?—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Similarly to fossil fuel supply disruptions of the past, the Iran conflict is already accelerating interest in renewable energy, electric vehicles and energy independence.—
Brian Lee,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
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These dynamics are accelerating structural change across the sector.—
Assef Shaikh,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Major insulin makers Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk also have moved to cut the cost of insulin, with different combinations of cutting list prices, capping out-of-pocket costs and expanding affordability.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
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The golden arches is expanding its McValue offerings with an under $3 menu and a $4 breakfast meal deal starting on April 21.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Years later, in Austria’s Salzburg, a now late teen Wolfgang Mozart performs a piece which is one part period piano, another part glam rock with a swelling modern orchestra, a powerful Freddie Mercury-esque choir and Mozart slamming his piano.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
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The victim, a 31-year-old man, had visible facial injuries, including scrapes, lacerations and swelling, and injuries indicative of being dragged on pavement, police wrote.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Kremlin’s economic woes are multiplying with its years-long war, which has added to government debt and dampened business investment.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
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The revenues of Anthropic and OpenAI have been multiplying every year, which proponents argue means that generative-AI products are on track to eventually become profitable.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Proliferating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proliferating. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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