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as in to reproduce
to bring forth offspring rabbits multiply with proverbial rapidity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb multiply contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of multiply are augment, enlarge, and increase. While all these words mean "to make or become greater," multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process.

with each attempt the problems multiplied

When is it sensible to use augment instead of multiply?

The meanings of augment and multiply largely overlap; however, augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed.

the inheritance augmented his fortune

When would enlarge be a good substitute for multiply?

The synonyms enlarge and multiply are sometimes interchangeable, but enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity.

enlarged the kitchen

When could increase be used to replace multiply?

The words increase and multiply can be used in similar contexts, but increase used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition.

his waistline increased with age
increased her landholdings

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 multiply By encouraging teams to view AI as an enabler rather than a threat, these leaders multiply their organization’s collective intelligence. Harrison Monarth, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 One of the biggest changes is how non-jackpot prizes are multiplied. Mike Winters, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2025 Her original following has multiplied to a community of over 199,000 people keeping up with her goals. Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025 The area of a circle is found by multiplying Pi by the square of radius. Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for multiply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for multiply
Verb
  • Of those, 15 were meant to reproduce extinct dire wolf gene variants.
    Emily Mullin, Wired News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • This material is not to be reproduced or redistributed absent the written consent of Fairlead Strategies.
    Katie Stockton, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • That was the largest purse in Masters history, and the pool of money has always stayed the same or increased, Today’s Golfer reports.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Indeed, solar generation increased by 474 TWh (terawatt-hours; 1 TWh is enough to power a small city for a year) in 2024, reaching a total of 2,131 TWh – with China and the US leading the charge.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Fans chose sides, hashtags trended, and both artists saw streaming numbers rise.
    Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 5 Apr. 2025
  • China’s tariffs would rise by one percentage point; the European Union’s would shift by even less.
    Ben Blatt, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • His greenhouse houses maybe 50 of his own varieties among 125 stock plants used in ongoing breeding and to propagate inventory for retail customers.
    Margaret Roach, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Misleading Social Media Advice: Platforms like TikTok propagate inaccurate tax advice, encouraging users to create fake documents or claim ineligible credits.
    Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In this slice-of-life portrait, Chen shows how childhood experiences can shape someone, illustrating how a childhood passion might expand their horizons without necessarily becoming a lifelong vocation.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Several hours later, the judge expanded his order to prevent the Trump administration from deporting any migrants believed to be members of Tren de Aragua under the Alien Enemies Act.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Business leaders obtain the necessary insights to reduce carbon and material usage, accelerate CSRD compliance, and accurately measure the financial and sustainability impact of their decisions.
    Sophia Mendelsohn, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs Wednesday affecting all U.S. trading partners and imports, plowing ahead on a risky economic strategy that promises to further accelerate a global trade war and raise anxieties about higher consumer prices at home.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The rubber match has augmented stakes in a Tournament field with increasing parity.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Attention also could be paid to dismantling foreign anticompetitive market distortions, in order to augment the benefits achieved through the Task Force.
    Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The agency hopes the undertaking will accommodate population swells on Fort Worth’s western outskirts.
    Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Before the pandemic, Jackson County Public Health had about 30 employees, but swelled to about 120 during the crisis.
    Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Multiply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/multiply. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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