as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the little problems we ignored began to snowball into huge headaches
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 snowball
Such prophecies of a snowballing surplus population may seem quaint to an American reader looking up from Capital at a country boasting historically low rates of unemployment.
—
Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
That quickly snowballed into 0-2, 1-3, 2-13 and 3-14.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 12 May 2025
Women’s rights: Almost a lost issue but the ongoing criminalization and/or litigation against practitioners who are trying to speak for their patients has snowballed.
—Dr. Jonathan Rosen, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2025
In the past, struggles would snowball on Alexander-Walker, who was susceptible to get into his own head at the first sign of struggles.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for snowball
Benjamin Kunkel, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
That quickly snowballed into 0-2, 1-3, 2-13 and 3-14.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 12 May 2025
Women’s rights: Almost a lost issue but the ongoing criminalization and/or litigation against practitioners who are trying to speak for their patients has snowballed.
—Dr. Jonathan Rosen, Hartford Courant, 11 May 2025
In the past, struggles would snowball on Alexander-Walker, who was susceptible to get into his own head at the first sign of struggles.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for snowball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snowball
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
-
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
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
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
-
Brent crude future prices, another top measure of oil prices, also climbed more than 8%.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
13 June 2025
-
Stocks closed lower on Friday and oil prices climbed after a military strike by Israel on Iran stirred investor fears about the risk of war breaking out in the Middle East.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
Abu Shabab’s social media presence, along with slick videos and fluent English commentary, has expanded.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
8 June 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Snowball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snowball. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share