enlarge

1
2
3

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb enlarge contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of enlarge are augment, increase, and multiply. While all these words mean "to make or become greater," enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity.

enlarged the kitchen

In what contexts can augment take the place of enlarge?

Although the words augment and enlarge have much in common, augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed.

the inheritance augmented his fortune

When might increase be a better fit than enlarge?

The words increase and enlarge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Where would multiply be a reasonable alternative to enlarge?

While in some cases nearly identical to enlarge, multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process.

with each attempt the problems multiplied

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 enlarge Annual deficits near $2 trillion—exceeding the total nominal federal outlays of the 1990s—enlarge a $36 trillion national debt. Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025 And Musk’s theatricalities are impotent: Government spending will grow as long as baby boomers continue to retire, the population ages and Congress continues to enlarge the national debt with gargantuan budget deficits. George Will, Twin Cities, 20 Mar. 2025 Elsewhere, Nothing's UI has some neat tricks like the ability to enlarge an app folder. Ben Sin, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 The stadium enlarged along with United’s trophy cabinet. Michael Walker, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enlarge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enlarge
Verb
  • Insufficient protein intake accelerates sarcopenia, or muscle wasting, which in turn increases vulnerability to illness, injury, and functional decline.
    Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • That reticence could conceivably involve suppressing concerns about how the U.S. military’s increasing involvement in domestic missions is placing strains on resources and readiness.
    Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 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
  • The potential is immense: Businesses can expand into new markets without facing financial roadblocks, while individuals can access their money without bureaucratic delays.
    Marc Sacal, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But the original poster disagreed, arguing that the line was in fact freeing.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • By eliminating or at least reducing manual, error-prone processes, these applications free up finance teams to focus on strategic initiatives like scaling operations and optimizing capital allocation.
    Carlos Vega, Forbes.com, 9 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
  • 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 policies announced on Liberation Day seem unlikely to liberate investors and business folk from their fears.
    John Cassidy, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Avoiding the dilemma of either yielding to Russian nuclear threats and allowing the loss of NATO territory or risking nuclear escalation in attempting to liberate NATO territory would require conventional defenses capable of halting a Russian incursion at the border.
    Mark S. Bell, Foreign Affairs, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The audio swells into an overwhelming crescendo of sound as the musician’s name and the album title flash across the screen.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
  • In November 2024, the actor and comedian told People that he was diagnosed in October after an upper respiratory infection caused swelling in his lymph nodes.
    Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • The rubber match has augmented stakes in a Tournament field with increasing parity.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enlarge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enlarge. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on enlarge

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!