increases

NOUN

addition, growth

Synonyms

STRONGEST

boost development escalation expansion gain hike increment inflation merger raise rise surge upsurge upturn

STRONG

access accession accretion accrual accumulation aggrandizement augmentation breakthrough burgeoning cumulation elaboration enlargement exaggeration extension incorporation intensification maximization multiplication optimization spread step-up swell swelling upgrade waxing

Antonyms

STRONGEST

decline decrease drop loss shrinkage

STRONG

abridgment compression reduction

WEAK

depletion diminishment subtraction

VERB

add or grow

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advance boost broaden build build up deepen develop double enhance enlarge escalate expand extend further heighten intensify multiply raise reinforce rise step up strengthen swell triple widen

STRONG

aggrandize aggravate amplify annex augment dilate distend exaggerate inflate lengthen magnify mount pad progress proliferate prolong protract pullulate redouble sharpen snowball spread supplement swarm teem thicken wax

WEAK

mark up slap on tack on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abridge cease compress condense contract curtail decelerate decrease demolish destroy diminish discourage divide drop halt hinder hurt lessen lower narrow prevent raze recede reduce repress restrict shorten shrink slow stop take back undermine weaken

STRONG

abbreviate decline deflate degrade fall play down retreat

WEAK

deplete lose subtract

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The increase marks the first hike in automobile fuel prices in India since the war broke out in February, prompting Iran's near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

The increase marks the second time in just over a year that Netflix has raised the cost of subscriptions.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

The increase marks the first two months of consecutive expansion since March.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 15, 2025

A whistleblower, who spoke to BBC News NI anonymously, claimed lecturers felt under pressure to increase marks.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2025

The whites and free men now form two-thirds of the whole population of the island, and this increase marks in some degree the diminution of the slaves.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 3 by Humboldt, Alexander von