Metastasize /məˈtastəˌsīz/ Verb 

Definition: Metastasize is an intransitive verb that means “to spread or grow as if by metastasis.”

Etymology: Metastasize comes from the noun metastasis, which comes from Latin and Greek words meaning “transition” and “a removing, migration, changing, or revolution.” The suffix –ize, which means “to render or make,” was added to make it into a verb. Today it’s used in medicine to show how tumors have spread from one area of the body to another, though it can be used in other ways.

In a Sentence

He died of lung cancer, which had metastasized throughout his body.

Any hopes of the ban reducing or reversing slavery’s spread were dashed by trade within the country, which caused slavery to metastasize from Georgia to Texas.

After the Taliban gained control, they targeted and killed Hazaras, only for that to continue and metastasize after the US invaded in 2001 and the rise of ISIS-K in 2015.

Synonyms 

Grew, Enlarged, Spread

Antonyms 

Dirty, Pour, Pollute