Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

balloon

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of balloon

1 to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
  • the number of students who stay home sick balloons every winter
Synonyms of balloon

accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, boom, build up, burgeon (also bourgeon), climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax
Words Related to balloon

jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge

heighten, intensify, redouble

blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up)

crescendo, crest, peak
Antonyms of balloon

contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane
2 to extend outward beyond a usual point
  • The paper bag ballooned and blew away as the wind lifted it skyward.
Synonyms of balloon

bag, beetle, belly, billow, bulge, bunch, jut, overhang, poke, pouch, pout, project, protrude, stand out, start, stick out, swell
Words Related to balloon

dome

blow up, inflate

dilate, distend, expand

mushroom, snowball

elongate, extend, lengthen, stretch
Near Antonyms of balloon

compress, condense, constrict, contract, shrink

Learn More about balloon

  1. See words that rhyme with balloon Dictionary: Definition of balloon Medical Dictionary: Definition of balloon Spanish Central: Translation of balloon Nglish: Translation of balloon for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of balloon for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about balloon

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up balloon? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games