proliferated

verb

past tense of proliferate
as in increased
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number rumors about the incident proliferated on the Internet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Chmerkovskiy quickly took down the offending TikTok, but not before fan screenshots proliferated and Inaba got wind of it. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026 It was usually made with gin, but Fizz variations proliferated throughout every spirit and style. — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026 And since the war in Gaza began three years ago, flags, pins, necklace pendants, military uniform patches, and bumper stickers bearing the image of a Third Temple have proliferated in Israeli public spaces. — Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 2026 The Michelangelo virus, which proliferated in the nineties and was programmed to attack on Michelangelo’s birthday, had destroyed his hard drive. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 But as lawsuits proliferated and California judges expanded the law’s reach, Republican lawmakers began seeking to try and reign CEQA in. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Construction zones proliferated in the area after the January 2025 fires that destroyed local homes and businesses, resulting in reduced speed limits. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026 As a result, no single authority can set priorities or quickly mobilize resources, and criminal organizations have proliferated in the bureaucracy’s seams. — Matias Spektor, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2026 With few regulations, hundreds of new private and microschools have proliferated. — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 2 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for proliferated
  1. increased
  2. swelled
  3. accelerated
  4. expanded
  5. rose
  6. multiplied
Verb
  • During a July 27 Highfill Water and Sewer Committee meeting, Kahrl reported the number of active water meters in the city increased from 2,077 to 2,285 over 12 months.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • More recently, the evolution of AI has increased the ease with which these websites can be populated with content, eliminating the need to pay writers and automating the production of social media posts.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of increased
Verb
  • The ranks of the protesters have also swelled to include some more opportunistic looters and agitators.
    — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Piper Sandler’s annual teen survey — polling 9,000 teens across 47 states — shows overall beauty spend swelled 7 percent this year, with growth across all key categories, including cosmetics, skin care, hair and fragrance.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of swelled
Verb
  • The vehicle then accelerated forward, and Foster moved directly in front of it with his gun drawn.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The focus on fraud has noticeably accelerated in the weeks leading up to the election.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of accelerated
Verb
  • But the lead quickly expanded in the second half, thanks to a 15-0 run by Charlotte, which lasted nearly three minutes and was capped off by Allen’s three-pointer.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Development began in the 1970s, and the system became operational for military use before civilian access expanded.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of expanded
Verb
  • During Lula's first two terms in office, from 2003 to 2010, Brazil's economy boomed, and millions of Brazilians rose out of poverty.
    — Catherine Osborn, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Was the last petal from the enchanted rose about to fall, this beauty of a season due to turn ugly?
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of rose
Verb
  • Sawie has worked with OCA to provide technical support for seed selection, testing, monitoring and quality assurance to help establish a reliable supply of organic cotton seed that can be multiplied and made widely available to farmers.
    — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The official said that Rubio had grown increasingly frustrated as the reports multiplied.
    — Matthew Lee, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of multiplied

Browse Nearby Words

proliferate
proliferated
proliferates
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Cite this Entry

“Proliferated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proliferated. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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