Synonyms of distended

distended 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈsten-dəd 

as in swollen

enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure

bees with abdomens distended with honey are less apt to sting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• swollen
• blown
• turgid
• puffed
• bloated
• varicose
• tumescent
• overinflated
• expanded
• bulging
• tumid
• dilated
• protuberant
• blown up
• ballooned
• ballooning
• dilating
• ventricose
• turgescent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collapsed
• deflated
• detumescent

distended

2 of 2

verb

past tense of distend

as in swelled

to make or become larger especially because of pressure from inside

The illness can cause the stomach to distend.

Related Words

• swelled
• expanded
• dilated
• increased
• inflated
• enlarged
• augmented
• elongated
• added (to)
• accelerated
• amplified
• extended
• multiplied
• stretched
• compounded
• prolonged
• aggrandized
• lengthened
• escalated
• developed
• built up
• hyped
• intensified
• stoked
• pumped up
• spiked
• blew up
• skyrocketed
• supersized
• protracted
• boomed
• jumped
• upped
• boosted
• enhanced
• drew out
• heightened
• bumped (up)
• reinforced
• magnified
• strengthened
• supplemented
• raised
• fleshed (out)
• complemented
• accumulated
• maximized
• ratcheted (up)
• racheted (up)
• beefed (up)
• collected
• followed up
• amassed
• parlayed

Dissimilar Words

• shortened
• curtailed
• compressed
• constricted
• abbreviated
• abridged
• contracted
• condensed
• reduced
• decreased
• diminished
• cut back
• lowered
• lessened
• dwindled
• downsized
• subtracted (from)
• abated
• retrenched
• minified
• de-escalated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of distended

Adjective

Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026

The distended episodes were littered with what feels like filler, little of which offered much in the way of narrative value. — Emma Flint, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025

Once per act, a second duo crashes in on Didi and Gogo, providing the tramps’ power balance with a lurid, distended foil. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025

Following too much pasta or one too many sweet treats, my stomach gets quite sensitive—resulting in a feeling of tightness and a distended, rumbling tummy. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 20 May 2025

Verb

Films today tend to err on the side of length in a way that can feel like fiction being distended. — Elissa Suh, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026

But the groaning synthesizer underneath her bashful smile tells you something is off — a crystalline tone now distended, unnerving. — Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026

In his songs, the English language turned woolier and more expressionistic; musical space-time distended and stretched. — New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026

His abdomen became distended, and his behavior changed — enough to concern caregivers. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026

His abdomen became very hard and distended. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026

According to a July 2025 update, Elliot’s abdomen was very hard and distended. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026

Boxing scenes in movies, other than in a handful of classics, tend to start to look all the same, a mishmash of beads of sweat and blood and jowels distended, all fists flying and battering as two men catapult and careen across the ring. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026