AMPLIFY Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

amplify

verb

ˈam-plə-ˌfī

Definition of amplify

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to increase

to make greater in size, amount, or number the number of blood volunteers was significantly amplified by the promise of thank-you gifts to donors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to intensify

to make markedly greater in measure or degree a fox's large ears serve to amplify such sounds as little critters skittering among stones

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 And the global threats to health risk amplifying existing inequalities, with the greatest burden falling on the most vulnerable communities. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 An external circuit board collects and amplifies the readings. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026 Ossoff went a step further, accusing Collins himself of amplifying hateful content and saying that his former congressional aide had intervened on behalf of a Holocaust denier. — AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026 During his decade at the house, Vaccarello’s conduct both reflected and amplified some of the patterns first sketched by the house’s great founding designer. — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for amplify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for amplify

Verb

Researchers have developed a paper-thin foot membrane that lets crawling microrobots harvest electricity directly from the ground beneath them, ditching heavy onboard batteries by turning metal and silicon surfaces into an active power source.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026
Neil Carleton, a cancer biologist and first-year resident physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said that breast tumors can develop and grow differently in older patients than in younger ones because of hormone levels and inflammation.

— Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of develop

Verb

Over the next three years, Movistar Plus plans to increase its annual output of Spanish originals from eight to 16 series, alongside another 10 titles through co-production and rights acquisition agreements.

— Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
The GroundBreaker 1 selection comes as the Department of War places increasing emphasis on rapidly fielding autonomous and robotic systems capable of operating alongside warfighters.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of increase

Verb

The complex political and economic climate has only intensified their desire to invest their own time and resources in uplifting other Latino and Hispanic creatives.

— Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Their push intensified as questions emerged about district contracts and payments involving a consultant with ties to Sneed.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of intensify

Verb

Good Time Charlie has Haddad shifting into a study of many characters at once and expanding in scale.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
The National Hurricane Center's official forecast is not one specific line, but rather a cone of uncertainty that expands with time, up to five days out.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of expand

Verb

In 2025, the company opened a global fragrance atelier in Paris, called La Maison des Paroberfums, which aims to accelerate innovation across its portfolio of fragrance brands including Jo Malone London, Le Labo, Kilian Paris and more.

— Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
The Democratic Unitary Platform, Venezuela’s largest opposition coalition, has called for a more dynamic relationship with Washington to accelerate political change.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of accelerate

Verb

That decade saw other international debuts, including Sweden, Hong Kong, Australia, France and Japan — places that would enhance the awareness and international visibility of the brand — all by 1968.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
There could be uses in agriculture as well, for selectively enhancing edible parts of plants, Theriot said.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of enhance

Verb

To supplement government aid during the surge, the Minneapolis Foundation collected millions of dollars from corporations based in the city.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
The river water will supplement the Prettyboy and Loch Raven reservoirs and serve parts of Baltimore City and County.

— Ellie Buckheit, Baltimore Sun, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of supplement

Verb

By definition, neither party enjoys a clear advantage in these contests, so both will look to augment their base support with the votes of independents.

— Julio Borquez, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
As The Economist recently reported, this began to change as local sources were augmented by federal and state spending.

— Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of augment

Browse Nearby Words

amplifies

amplify

amplifying

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Style

“Amplify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amplify. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of amplify

verb

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