as in increased
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the little problems we ignored began to snowball into huge headaches
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Recent Examples of snowballed
But soon enough, the attention snowballed into scandal.
—
Amanda Montell, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
Veterans could cite pre-2020 examples of films that arrived without buzz, made an impact at their premiere, and snowballed into must-see titles by their second public screening.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026
The Senators’ idea snowballed so quickly that OPH members only learned they were involved through social media.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The demonstrations quickly snowballed into a broader anti-government movement calling for the fall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 18 Jan. 2026
Those demonstrations against economic hardship and the regime's appalling financial record snowballed quickly into the nationwide protests against the Islamic Republic's leadership itself.
—Elizabeth Palmer, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
The loss to Tennessee last season snowballed into five straight during Coach John Calipari's first season in Fayetteville.
—Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 2 Jan. 2026
Such a streak in years past might have snowballed.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
The Minnesota fraud cases have snowballed, and Thompson said more charges are expected.
—Hannah Fingerhut, Twin Cities, 19 Dec. 2025
Amanda Montell, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
Veterans could cite pre-2020 examples of films that arrived without buzz, made an impact at their premiere, and snowballed into must-see titles by their second public screening.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026
The Senators’ idea snowballed so quickly that OPH members only learned they were involved through social media.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The demonstrations quickly snowballed into a broader anti-government movement calling for the fall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 18 Jan. 2026
Those demonstrations against economic hardship and the regime's appalling financial record snowballed quickly into the nationwide protests against the Islamic Republic's leadership itself.
—Elizabeth Palmer, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
The loss to Tennessee last season snowballed into five straight during Coach John Calipari's first season in Fayetteville.
—Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 2 Jan. 2026
Such a streak in years past might have snowballed.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
The Minnesota fraud cases have snowballed, and Thompson said more charges are expected.
—Hannah Fingerhut, Twin Cities, 19 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snowballed
Verb
-
The phrase has been tagged in more than 550,000 posts on Instagram, while on TikTok the number of videos with the #curatedvintage hashtag increased by 50% in the past year.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
According to the complaint, the companies and their subsidiaries repeatedly increased EpiPen prices and paid pharmacy benefit managers to keep rival products off the market, which violates the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act, the Indiana Antitrust Act and the Medicaid False Claims Act.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Haynam’s lawsuit came as scrutiny of Kersten’s leadership swelled in the wake of the Dexter Reed shooting in March 2024.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The scandal swelled after British media reported a trove of emails between Mandelson and Epstein, in which the veteran Labour politician expressed support for his friend, despite the financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has not ruled out granting Maxwell clemency, but Republican pushback to that notion quickly rose after Maxwell made the appeal.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Swirling and intricate pink rose custom Pierre Frey wallpaper and deep blue wainscoting lead to the LaVerne suite, and mint greens and pastel pinks plus detailed wallpaper of Southwestern cacti and brush mirror Hal Thompson’s likes.—
Mandy Ellis,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Those investigators learned that Rich was standing in the intersection with his hands on his hips and was not armed when DeOrzio accelerated without a warning and struck him, Steele said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The pandemic, of course, accelerated a troubling trend of newspaper closures over the last 20 years.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The enhanced subsidies, which expanded eligibility both by lowering the percentage of household income people had to pay toward their care and removing an income cap, expired at the end of last year.—
Julie Appleby,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Russia has been seen modernizing its nuclear facilities, and in recent years, China has expanded its main test site by digging new tunnels.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snowballed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snowballed. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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