as in blown up
Related Words
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in developed
to express more fully and in greater detail
an article on the First Ladies that the author later expanded into a book
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in increased
to make greater in size, amount, or number
we had to expand the list of wedding guests several times in order to accommodate all the relatives Mother wouldn't dream of excluding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in extended
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area
a spare leaf for those times when we have to expand the dining table to accommodate extra guests
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in accelerated
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
water expands when it becomes frozen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of expanded
Julie Appleby, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Russia has been seen modernizing its nuclear facilities, and in recent years, China has expanded its main test site by digging new tunnels.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 11 Feb. 2026
The game recently expanded to Xbox and continues to perform.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
That’s right, TGN has expanded to a new spot on Park Avenue, where fans can find all the good fare for breakfast, brunch and lunch, as well as pop in for last-minute treats for their sweets.
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
The New York Times reported in February of 2025 that the CIA had expanded secret drone flights over Mexico to search for fentanyl labs.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
In the second half of 2025, Outopia quickly expanded to five new cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Nanjing and Hangzhou.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
This item was originally intended to build more affordable single family homes, but was expanded to include other types of homeownership opportunities.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2026
The chain also expanded its value offerings by relaunching Extra Value Meals, which offer a roughly 15% discount on combo meals.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
The enhanced subsidies, which expanded eligibility both by lowering the percentage of household income people had to pay toward their care and removing an income cap, expired at the end of last year.
—Julie Appleby, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Russia has been seen modernizing its nuclear facilities, and in recent years, China has expanded its main test site by digging new tunnels.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 11 Feb. 2026
The game recently expanded to Xbox and continues to perform.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
That’s right, TGN has expanded to a new spot on Park Avenue, where fans can find all the good fare for breakfast, brunch and lunch, as well as pop in for last-minute treats for their sweets.
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
The New York Times reported in February of 2025 that the CIA had expanded secret drone flights over Mexico to search for fentanyl labs.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
In the second half of 2025, Outopia quickly expanded to five new cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Nanjing and Hangzhou.
—Denni Hu, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
This item was originally intended to build more affordable single family homes, but was expanded to include other types of homeownership opportunities.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Feb. 2026
The chain also expanded its value offerings by relaunching Extra Value Meals, which offer a roughly 15% discount on combo meals.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expanded
Verb
-
Borderlands has developed relationships with pro-bono attorneys who help immigrants facing deportation.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
For instance, studying subsurface cavities is a primary goal of an instrument called the Subsurface Radar Sounder, or SRS, planned for the EnVision mission being developed by the European Space Agency, which can penetrate the planet's surface to depths of several hundred meters.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The phrase has been tagged in more than 550,000 posts on Instagram, while on TikTok the number of videos with the #curatedvintage hashtag increased by 50% in the past year.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
According to the complaint, the companies and their subsidiaries repeatedly increased EpiPen prices and paid pharmacy benefit managers to keep rival products off the market, which violates the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act, the Indiana Antitrust Act and the Medicaid False Claims Act.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
It was originally supposed to expire in 2021 but was extended for five more years.—
VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Georgia Southern extended its lead to as much as 10 in the fourth before a 3-pointer from Texas State guard Deja Jones cut the deficit to five.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Those investigators learned that Rich was standing in the intersection with his hands on his hips and was not armed when DeOrzio accelerated without a warning and struck him, Steele said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The pandemic, of course, accelerated a troubling trend of newspaper closures over the last 20 years.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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
Verb
-
Surgery on transgender minors is rare — one study found that between 2016 and 2020, about 3,200 people aged 18 and under received top surgery, in which someone’s breasts are augmented, reduced in size or removed.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
10 Feb. 2026
-
At the same time, even the most cognitively challenging tasks that humans excel at can also be augmented by AI.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Seattle opened as the favorite to win next year’s Super Bowl on BetMGM.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Her grandfather opened Lewis Street Auto Body, which is still in the family.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has not ruled out granting Maxwell clemency, but Republican pushback to that notion quickly rose after Maxwell made the appeal.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Swirling and intricate pink rose custom Pierre Frey wallpaper and deep blue wainscoting lead to the LaVerne suite, and mint greens and pastel pinks plus detailed wallpaper of Southwestern cacti and brush mirror Hal Thompson’s likes.—
Mandy Ellis,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expanded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expanded. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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