WIDENS Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

widens

verb

present tense third-person singular of widen

as in broadens

to increase the width, breadth, or scope of Immediate action to widen the highway is needed to ease the near constant congestion. The authorities planned to widen their investigation into Ponzi scheme.

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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 widens This uncontrolled melting widens the cavern and dangerously thins the structural salt pillars separating adjacent domes. — Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 The use of noble language to describe a process that weakens constitutional guardrails only widens the disconnect between words and actions. — Yuripzy Morgan, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026 The commodity tier keeps getting cheaper, which widens what AI gets used for. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 This not only improves blow flow in one particular region but also relaxes and widens blood vessels throughout the body, Kloner says. — Will Stone, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026 Her expression tips from worry into wonder, and the wonder becomes a smile, and the smile widens. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 10 Aug. 2026 Even so, stablecoin's benefits are starting to emerge, as usage widens. — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 Spicy food ingredients, especially capsaicin—which widens blood vessels and reduces salty food cravings—may be involved if the blood pressure effects of a spicy food diet are scientifically proven. — Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 3 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for widens

Verb

Hale added that pairing AI criticism with religious language broadens its reach beyond activists already skeptical of the technology.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
Commercial launch services are already standard for most NASA and DOD missions, but the memorandum broadens that approach to transportation after reaching orbit, including spacecraft servicing and logistics.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of broadens

Verb

The event comes as China expands its robotics industry and competes to establish leadership in humanoid and autonomous machines, with more than 2,000 robots from 16 countries also taking part in the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 23 Aug. 2026
Now about 5½ months old, Crimson is thriving on three legs, quickly returning to playful, curious cub behavior as the Oakland Zoo expands its track record of rescuing orphaned mountain lions.

— Jasmine Mendez Follow, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of expands

Verb

Over the coming years, NASA’s VIPER rover, the European Space Agency’s PROSPECT drilling package, and the Japan-India LUPEX rover are expected to arrive at the moon’s south pole, as the race to find water sources intensifies.

— Reuters, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2026
The challenge of proximity becomes more serious when a storm rapidly intensifies.

— Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of intensifies

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widening

widens

wide-ranging

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“Widens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/widens. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of widens

verb

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