What is a better word for "exponentially"?

I often hear news reports of rapidly increasing problems use the word "exponentially" for emphasis. For example, tonight's BBC America World News included a segment on the growing Syrian refugee problem, saying the number of refugees was "increasing exponentially".

Now clearly this usage is not consistent with mathematically accurate usage and though I'm sure most understand the intent, it still bothers me.

For reference, the number of registered Syrian refugees increased from 471,808 on 2012-12-31 to 2,241,100 on 2013-12-13. Neither "five-fold increase" nor "quintupling" seem to have the same impact.

Can anyone suggest an alternative word that is not so mathematical in nature to describe such an increase? Of course, I'm looking for a word to describe future growth, not past.

Solution 1:

There is no single word that is close to exponential. You are correct, of course, that the growth is not exponential. But exponential connotes a rapid and increasing rate of growth. In reality, your example might more closely represent a sigmoidal growth curve, but we don't generally say that of growth.

The closest words I can think of would be explosive, sudden, dramatic, rapid, mushrooming, snowballing, escalating, rocketing, skyrocketing, accelerating.

Solution 2:

Perhaps dramatically

(of an event or circumstance) sudden and striking: a dramatic increase in recorded crime

Solution 3:

"Exponential" may be a perfectly accurate word, although it would require more than two points to confirm. It's not correct to say it can't be exponential - there are many everyday examples of exponential growth - for instance compound interest in a savings account. However, exponential growth cannot go on indefinitely, because something will eventually force it to stop - usually in a fairly dramatic way. It is entirely possible that the Syrian refugee growth is exponential at this point, but it clearly cannot continue exponentially for an indefinite period.

If you still don't like "exponential" then Susan's suggestions are excellent.