PROLIFERATION Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

proliferation

noun

as in increase

something added (as by growth) a large proliferation in the number of electrical appliances was placing enormous demands upon the region's power supply

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in accumulation

the act or process of becoming greater in number the proliferation of mistakes as both actors and crew became more and more tired

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 proliferation But none of them adequately addresses the problem of ensuring European security without risking further proliferation. — Ivo H. Daalder, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026 The debate over whether cover letters had become an outdated ritual was already in full swing before the proliferation of artificial intelligence. — Julia Carpenter, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2026 There has been a proliferation of not-so-great polls this cycle, some driven by AI, others without long track records and even a pollster exposed to be fake. — Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026 Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026 The explosive growth of the robotics industry in recent years is reflected in new technology feats, but also by the proliferation of new business and distribution models. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 Young people frustrated by the proliferation of AI and sick of screen addiction are investing in more nondigital pastimes, many of which have a nostalgic bent. — Deeya Sonalkar, TheWeek, 8 Oct. 2026 When a Lee County voter asked how each candidate would control the proliferation of high-tech expansion in the state, Bottoms accused Jackson of investing in four data centers that local residents did not want. — AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026 The proliferation of flags has become one of the defining features of the 2026 season. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for proliferation

Noun

The third such increase went into effect this month, but this time there was no such rush.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
The result is a modest but welcome increase in output, which climbs from 370 hp to 388 hp, while torque remains unchanged at 331 ft lbs.

— Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of increase

Noun

Ice accumulation poses a serious threat to aircraft because even a thin layer can disrupt airflow over the wings, reducing lift and making a plane more difficult to control.

— Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Researchers at Washington University found markedly different gut microbiomes in people at the earliest preclinical stages of Alzheimer’s, differences correlated with amyloid and tau accumulation before any cognitive symptoms appeared.

— Holly Baines, STAT, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of accumulation

Noun

Over the record’s 33 minutes, Holden delivers an outstanding addition to his catalog that’s as absorbing and realist as any rap album this year.

— Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
The Danish Dogma25 projects are financed in a collaboration between Zentropa, DR, and Nordisk Film Distribution, with the addition of Netflix in the Nordics, constituting the core financing necessary to realize all five projects.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of addition

Noun

Nvidia has given its frame-generation tech a boost with a new performance mode, available now in the beta release of the Nvidia app.

— Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Back then, Pritzker was able to spend tens of millions to give Bailey a boost because the billionaire Democrat viewed him as an easier opponent.

— Chris Tye, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of boost

Noun

If the answer is yes, the efficiency gain may be a competitive loss in disguise.

— Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Student test scores in the largest Sacramento-region school districts generally show a similar pattern of modest gains the recent years, but achievement levels in most cases are below the pre-pandemic scores of 2018-19.

— Chaewon Chung October 17, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of gain

Noun

New York households now pay roughly 70 percent more per kilowatt-hour than in 2019, against a national rise of under 40 percent.

— Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Riley points to the rise of rock stars being awarded with knighthoods by the British royal family as a correlation of changing tastes of reputability.

— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of rise

Browse Nearby Words

proliferating

proliferation

proliferations

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of proliferation

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes