PROLIFERATED Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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Recent Examples of proliferated 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 Fentanyl – a pharmaceutical developed in the 1960s as a safer alternative to morphine – proliferated as a cheaper, more convenient additive. — New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026 These arguments have proliferated despite a substantial body of evidence showing transgender people are far more likely to be targets of violence, rather than perpetrators. — Lisa Hagen, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026 As the post-2021 conflict intensified, military checkpoints proliferated on major roads across the country. — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for proliferated

Verb

She's increased the amount of people in the league office which has helped the overall growth of the WNBA.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Containment on the Bryson fire, which has scorched 147 acres near Encinal Canyon Road since igniting on Thursday, increased to 52% Saturday morning.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of increased

Verb

Global manufacturers increased their purchases of components and raw materials in September as demand swelled.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
In extremely short order, the Belgian designer filled them and more, cresting the wave of growth that swelled across luxury between 2016 and 2023 (via the Covid slump).

— Luke Leitch, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of swelled

Verb

During the demonstration, a Roadster prototype accelerated up a massive curved ramp.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
The sell-off accelerated Wednesday after hotter-than-expected consumer inflation data raised concerns that the Federal Reserve could keep interest rates elevated for longer.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of accelerated

Verb

Trump has vastly expanded ICE to ramp up deportations of immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, and the agency was a major part of last year’s law-enforcement surge in the Chicago area known as Operation Midway Blitz.

— Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Open Doors Foundation, which began operations in 2025 and quickly expanded before running into zoning and code issues at multiple properties this year, has sought to remain open at 3221 Independence Avenue, its original location.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of expanded

Verb

His family, like many Lebanese Jews, left as anti-Jewish sentiment rose after the 1967 war between Israel and Arab countries.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Then mines started to close and unemployment rose, and its owner, an elderly Italian named Netta Cavalli, was beaten in her shop and died soon after.

— Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of rose

Verb

The official said that Rubio had grown increasingly frustrated as the reports multiplied.

— Matthew Lee, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Cameras multiplied the audience onto the massive display, effectively making it all about the fans before dropping them into increasingly dark and elaborate worlds.

— Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of multiplied

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proliferate

proliferated

proliferates

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“Proliferated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/proliferated. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of proliferated

verb

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