inflated

adjective

in·​flat·​ed in-ˈflā-təd 

1

: distended with air or gas

2

: expanded to an abnormal or unjustifiable volume or level

inflated prices

3

: elaborated or heightened by artificial or empty means

an inflated style of writing

4

: being hollow and enlarged or distended

Synonyms of inflated

• exaggerated

Examples of inflated in a Sentence

a writer with an inflated reputation

an inflated style of writing

She objects to the inflated salaries that many professional athletes now receive.

Recent Examples on the Web

Another agency investigation revealed that a former CPS employee defrauded the district of potentially more than $135,000 over three years by reporting false or inflated work hours, the report said. —Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026

Investors also periodically rotated out of tech and into value areas of the market due to worries of inflated valuations in the AI trade. —Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2026

Those are considerable cap hits, even in today’s inflated landscape. —Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 1 Jan. 2026

The incident, captured on social media video, showed the inflated faux boulder used in the Raiders of the Lost Ark stunt show’s opening sequence veering off its usual track and appearing to barrel toward the seated audience at the edge of the stage. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for inflated

• abated
• ablated
• awaited
• belated
• berated
• castrated
• chelated
• citrated
• collated
• conflated
• created
• curated

Kids Definition

inflated

adjective

in·​flat·​ed

in-ˈflāt-əd

: hollow and stretched or swelled

inflated pods of a plant