1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the number of students who stay home sick balloons every winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the paper bag ballooned and blew away as the wind lifted it skyward
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of balloon
And for rail construction, in particular, demand will balloon to more than four times the local capacity.
—
Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
The costs of intercepting could also balloon if targets are engaged over populated areas, with drones, defensive munitions and falling debris all posing risks to people and property on the ground.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 2 May 2026
As the Iran war drags on, concerns over rising gas prices and other costs have ballooned, sending consumer sentiment plummeting.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The $39 trillion national debt is only expected to balloon even further.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2026
The costs of intercepting could also balloon if targets are engaged over populated areas, with drones, defensive munitions and falling debris all posing risks to people and property on the ground.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 2 May 2026
As the Iran war drags on, concerns over rising gas prices and other costs have ballooned, sending consumer sentiment plummeting.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The $39 trillion national debt is only expected to balloon even further.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balloon
Verb
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The 76ers led for all but 31 seconds in the game, increasing a five-point halftime edge to 18 in the third quarter.—
Kyle Hightower,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
Her aunt plans to pressure the City Council to pass measures to increase building safety.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Her fangs protrude, her nails lengthen.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 May 2026
-
Hemorrhoids are common and treatable, but bleeding, severe pain, lingering symptoms, or protruding hemorrhoids should be checked by a doctor.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The crackdown—which came amid a shrinking economy, rising costs, tax increases, and Ukrainian drone strikes on the country’s energy sector—led to a rare outburst of public discontent and an equally uncommon acknowledgment of the dissatisfaction from Putin.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
-
Gas prices have surged and inflation is rising.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
When Andrei Vasilevskiy tried to poke the puck away, Bolduc had moved so deep into the crease area that the puck went off him and into the net for his first career playoff goal.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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The host also poked fun at the Trumps’ living separately despite being married for 22 years.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Veneers and crowns can cause temporary sensitivity or mild discomfort, while implants may lead to swelling and soreness in the first few days.—
K.H. Koehler,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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While a warm, four-bar bassline chugs alongside dubby stabs and bouncy swells, BEA1991’s vocals switch from nonchalant monotone to falsetto in a way that sounds like an involuntary yelp of joy.—
Reid BG,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Reiner sat mostly expressionless in the courtroom—his eyes wide open and bulging.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
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This results in bulging eyes (proptosis) due to swelling or pressure behind your eyes.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Even accelerating a college degree to three years from four, can save students $100,000 dollars or more at many schools.—
Matthew G. Andersson,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
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Conventional intuition suggests that the most efficient way to accelerate a chemical reaction is to give reactants unhindered access to a highly active catalyst.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
3 May 2026
Verb
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The chain eventually expanded to other nameplates — Banana Republic and Old Navy — and now generates more than $15 billion in sales globally.—
Anne D'Innocenzio,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
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That means expanding the Renter’s Tax Credit, protecting homeowners from rising costs and making sure renters know their rights and can access homelessness prevention services.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balloon. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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