snowballed
Grew exponentially fast
Snowballed describes something that grew rapidly by accumulating more of itself, like a snowball rolling downhill gathering mass.
Problems snowball, costs snowball, rumors snowball—each gaining momentum as they progress: What started as a minor complaint snowballed into a full investigation.
The word captures how small beginnings can compound into something much larger.
Rapid mountain snow collapse
- cascadeSuccessive downward flow
- spiraledMoved in helix
- mushroomedExpanded suddenly and greatly
- balloonedExpanded suddenly outward
skyrocketed · exploded · surged · intensified · amplified · multiplied · proliferated · burgeoned
Gathered in abundance
- gatheredBrought into one place
- collectedCalm and self-possessed
- piled upAccumulated in quantity
- built upIncreased through accumulation
accrued · aggregated · heaped · mounted · stacked · compounded · grew · increased
Increased in force
- acceleratedIncreased in velocity
- propelledCaused to move forward
- drivenIntensely determined to achieve
- unstoppableImpossible to halt
picked up speed · rolling · building · runaway train · self-perpetuating · downhill · juggernaut
avalanche
Rapid mountain snow collapse
- cascadeSuccessive downward flow
- spiraledMoved in helix
- mushroomedExpanded suddenly and greatly
ballooned · skyrocketed · exploded · surged · intensified · amplified · multiplied · proliferated · burgeoned · swelled
amassed
Gathered in abundance
built up · accrued · aggregated · heaped · mounted · stacked · compounded · grew · increased · added up
gained steam
Increased in force
- acceleratedIncreased in velocity
- propelledCaused to move forward
- drivenIntensely determined to achieve
picked up speed · unstoppable · rolling · building · runaway train · self-perpetuating · downhill · juggernaut
snowballedshrank
Became smaller, past tense
decreased · contracted · dwindled · diminished · tapered off
snowballedplateaued
Stopped increasing or improving
leveled off · stagnated · stabilized · crawled · flatlined
- snowball fightPlayful winter combat
- snowball effectsCumulative amplification processes
- snowball's chanceNo realistic prospect
- snowball's chance in hellInevitable failure assured
- snowballs chanceCertain failure ahead
- snowball cookiesRound nut cookies dusted white