Snowballed

To snowball is a verb describing a situation or process that gains momentum and increases rapidly, often exponentially, like a rolling snowball gathering more snow. It implies a chain reaction or a compounding effect, where an initial small action or event leads to a series of consequences that escalate over time. This escalation can be either positive, such as in a successful business venture, or negative, as in a financial crisis or a conflict. The key aspect is the rapid and amplifying nature of the changes. Snowballing often suggests a loss of control, as the situation quickly outgrows its initial scope and becomes difficult to manage.

Snowballed meaning with examples

• The initial rumor about the company's financial troubles quickly snowballed into widespread panic and a massive sell-off of stocks. Employees were concerned about their jobs. The media then created news of these sell-offs. These stories of chaos continued to grow, with the market losing almost half of its value in a matter of weeks and creating an all-out financial crisis for the organization.
• Our small local festival, with 200 attendees in the first year, snowballed into a multi-day event attracting thousands from across the state. The event needed several more volunteers. The festival had larger sponsors as well. The number of vendors increased from five to over fifty as local residents realized the economic benefits of this increased interest.
• His minor disagreement with his boss snowballed into a full-blown argument and eventually led to him quitting his job and a broken relationship. Several days of avoiding each other and ignoring each other built into a big confrontation. He started looking at other possible jobs after the incident to prevent future conflicts with anyone else in the organization.
• The initial small loan to the struggling family quickly snowballed with interest, leading to overwhelming debt and the eventual loss of their home. The family was unable to make payments. They eventually lost their home to the bank. The family now lives in a single room at the local shelter.