augment

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb augment contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of augment are enlarge, increase, and multiply. While all these words mean "to make or become greater," augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed.

the inheritance augmented his fortune

When is it sensible to use enlarge instead of augment?

The words enlarge and augment can be used in similar contexts, but enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity.

enlarged the kitchen

When might increase be a better fit than augment?

In some situations, the words increase and augment are roughly equivalent. However, 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 augment?

While in some cases nearly identical to augment, 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 augment The Arsenal hierarchy recognise there is some urgency to the situation, and are actively seeking to augment Arteta’s attacking options between now and the February 3 deadline. James McNicholas, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025 The military has been deployed in this role for years, and President Biden relied on the same emergency authority to augment their numbers. Elizabeth Goitein, TIME, 23 Jan. 2025 The Joe Mantello Creative Catalyst Endowed Fund for Drama will support original productions from students and augment existing programs on campus such as Keys to the Kingdom, which is a season in the fourth year that is programmed, produced, directed, acted and often written or devised by students. Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025 Disruption risk The prospects of that future — and the fact that Wall Street’s workers are helping train a technology that may make some roles obsolete, while augmenting other jobs and creating new roles altogether — may send a fresh wave of anxiety through employee ranks. Hugh Son, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for augment 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for augment
Verb
  • The value of most investments have increased significantly in the past year.
    Kerry Meagher, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • The complaint data becomes increasingly valuable as insurance premium rates in New York on average have increased by double-digit percentages in recent years, raising the stakes.
    David Robinson, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Immigrant advocates have pushed to shore up those protections with a federal bill that would expand visa eligibility for workers cooperating with regulators to expose labor violations, so far without success.
    Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2025
  • Look, $100 million on initiatives like expanding atheism in Nepal.
    Linda Qiu, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The investment helps to accelerate Mikuni’s goal of expanding to 50 locations by its 50th anniversary, Arai said in a news release announcing the deal.
    Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 14 Feb. 2025
  • The demonstration was organized by the service workers' union ver.di, with participants marching through the streets around 10:30 a.m. when the suspect's vehicle overtook a police escort, accelerated, and struck the crowd from behind, police said.
    Security & Defense Reporter Ellie Cook , reporting from Munich, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • On top of its luxurious scent profile, its formula utilizes a mix of Brazilian olive oil and microalgae extract, two antioxidant-rich ingredients that support the skin barrier, boost elasticity and calm inflammation.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Navigators are stationed throughout the country to help people enroll in ACA and Medicaid coverage and are credited with boosting the programs’ enrollment in recent years.
    Amanda Seitz, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The OnePlus Open is a sleek, lightweight, foldable phone with a hinge that's designed with fewer parts and premium materials, feels sturdy, and folds flat, enhancing usability.
    Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 11 Feb. 2025
  • The phenomenon will visible to the naked eye from Earth’s Western Hemisphere, but will be enhanced with telescopes and binoculars, NASA says.
    Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near augment

Cite this Entry

“Augment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/augment. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on augment

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