as in affectation
the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case
the personal essay accompanying his college application was devoid of the inflation and self-aggrandizement that all too often is found in such writings
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inflation
Those questions include the impact of tariffs on inflation (if or when those increases truly hit), as well as geopolitics, the labor market, and whether AI will deliver the returns investors are banking on.
—
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
Those ticket sales were below projections of $8 million to $15 million and marked a career low for Johnson, below his 2010 thriller ‘Faster’ ($8.5 million, not adjusted for inflation).
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Residential electricity rates have risen fast across the US—more than 30 percent on average since 2020 and almost double the rate of inflation in the past year—with no end in sight.
—Umair Irfan, Wired News, 4 Oct. 2025
The latest reading reveals that inflation has caught up with many items with the overall index climbing nearly 11% over the past two and a half years.
—Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflation
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
Those ticket sales were below projections of $8 million to $15 million and marked a career low for Johnson, below his 2010 thriller ‘Faster’ ($8.5 million, not adjusted for inflation).
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Residential electricity rates have risen fast across the US—more than 30 percent on average since 2020 and almost double the rate of inflation in the past year—with no end in sight.
—Umair Irfan, Wired News, 4 Oct. 2025
The latest reading reveals that inflation has caught up with many items with the overall index climbing nearly 11% over the past two and a half years.
—Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflation
Noun
-
But Lloyd’s awkward staging here and questionable affectations (including an audience clap-along) makes Pozzo’s relationship with Lucky unfocused and puzzling.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The band sets aside the winks and retro affectations for something unadorned and honest.—
Sarah Grant,
Rolling Stone,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Still, Patel warns Gen Z that confidence can quickly morph into arrogance.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
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Schmitt suffers a nervous breakdown after his arrogance (and Webber’s long leash on the residency program) leads to him killing a podcaster on the operating table and these two break up again.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Under the pretense of a back-to-school rules review, the sophomore through senior classes at Ruskin were treated to a stirring drumline performance before a shocked Sixta took the the stage.—
Ilana Arougheti
Updated October 7,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
-
In the end, no one was pretending, unless pretense paid the bills.—
Lavender Au,
The Dial,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Journalism that explains things clearly, without pretension or jargon.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Oct. 2025
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But she is best remembered for Keeping Up Appearances and her role as Hyacinth Bucket, a working-class woman with pretensions of social superiority.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Play Tetris in your bathroom vanity or junk drawer with these versatile containers.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Stainless-steel twin vanities are tucked into niches at opposite ends of the 20-foot-long space, while the water closet and double shower are obscured behind frosted glass and metal doors.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inflation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflation. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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