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as in to develop
to express more fully and in greater detail after filing a report of missing luggage, he was asked to amplify a bit as to the circumstances

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb amplify differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of amplify are dilate, distend, expand, inflate, and swell. While all these words mean "to increase in size or volume," amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

amplify the statement with details

When is it sensible to use dilate instead of amplify?

Although the words dilate and amplify have much in common, dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

dilated pupils

In what contexts can distend take the place of amplify?

The meanings of distend and amplify largely overlap; however, distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

a distended abdomen

When would expand be a good substitute for amplify?

While the synonyms expand and amplify are close in meaning, expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (such as growth, unfolding, addition of parts).

a business that expands every year

When could inflate be used to replace amplify?

The synonyms inflate and amplify are sometimes interchangeable, but inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

an inflated ego

When might swell be a better fit than amplify?

The words swell and amplify can be used in similar contexts, but swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

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 amplify Nationalist sentiment, amplified by state media, has left U.S. firms vulnerable — a trend Trump’s policies will only intensify. Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2025 Reid used her primetime slot to hold leaders accountable, challenge misinformation and amplify issues often sidelined in mainstream political discourse. Melissa Noel, Essence, 24 Feb. 2025 The dialogue sparked by media, amplified by pop culture, and celebrated through events is a testament to the plant’s growing acceptance—a transformation that shows no signs of slowing down. Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025 This narrative, amplified by figures like Trump, Musk, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not only distorted the reality of land reform in South Africa but has also fueled the far-right's broader agenda in many Western countries. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for amplify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amplify
Verb
  • Should a rally develop, short covering could fuel it.
    John Navin, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • More than a third of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die from the disease, according to the CDC.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Accordingly, with no viable domestic production alternative, prices for end-users would increase.
    Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • China is facilitating this by strengthening cooperation with Russia on research and commercial activities, as well as by increasing China's national icebreaker capacity.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But that pressure has been intensified by the Trump administration – especially on the offshore wind industry.
    Matt Egan, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
  • One reason is likely intensifying EV competition, especially from companies like China’s BYD.
    Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Success in this new landscape depends on maintaining high-quality standards while effectively harnessing AI's capabilities to enhance and expand data resources.
    Deepak Yadav, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • These actions are leaving the U.S. vulnerable despite years of evidence that Russia is committed to continuing and expanding its cyber efforts, according to Liana Keesing, campaigns manager for technology reform at Issue One, a nonprofit that has studied technology’s impact on democracy.
    David Klepper, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Probably the most significant factor is the company's ever-present pressure to accelerate, even while taking on more and more challenging tasks.
    Ryan Whitwam, Ars Technica, 10 Mar. 2025
  • The staggering investment levels, impressive ROI reports, and accelerating adoption rates signal a technology crossing the threshold from emerging to essential.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • For example, a healthcare provider using a unified content model can empower their staff to retrieve patient records or research data with ease, reducing the burden on management and enhancing patient experience.
    Daniel Fallmann, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Federal officials noted that the penalties are enhanced based on Tilley’s prior state convictions.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Granular applications of fertilizer can be supplemented periodically with water-soluble organics.
    Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Information from The Associated Press was used to supplement this news article.
    Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Conrad called steel guitarist Justin Schipper in to augment the band the next day at The Smoakstack, a studio loaded with guitars — and ceramic figures — in Nashville’s Berry Hill neighborhood.
    Tom Roland, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Possibilities include accelerating drug discovery, augmenting preclinical or clinical research, predicting potential product quality issues and optimizing testing protocols.
    Aman Wasan, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Amplify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amplify. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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