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
Others see them as extraneous measures for pet projects that balloon congressional spending.
—
Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
Chastain is a partner at Duro today, and the company has ballooned to 400 employees.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Idaho’s total population ballooned, for the first time hitting 2 million people in December 2024, the state’s Department of Labor reported.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Costs have ballooned, though, having topped $100 billion since the program was announced.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
Chastain is a partner at Duro today, and the company has ballooned to 400 employees.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Idaho’s total population ballooned, for the first time hitting 2 million people in December 2024, the state’s Department of Labor reported.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Costs have ballooned, though, having topped $100 billion since the program was announced.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balloon
Verb
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The concern is not only the surge in killings, but the increasing brazenness with which they are carried out.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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For example, rising temperatures have direct harms on health by increasing risk of dehydration and causing more stress on the heart.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This anatomy features a lower jaw with teeth that protrude out between the upper set—a trait previously only seen in flying pterosaurs, marine ichthyosaurs, and semiaquatic crocodilian predators.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
19 Feb. 2026
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Around the side, the former casino facade is now the front of Joe Leaphorn’s workplace, the Kayenta tribal police station, complete with protruding wood beams.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After finishing third in the short program, Liu rose to the top of the medal podium while skating freely, ebulliently, inured to any pressure, performing with technical precision and bright artistry.—
Bora Erden,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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At some point, likely within the next two billion years, those temperatures will rise so high that our oceans will boil away; shortly after that, it’s expected that life on our planet will go completely extinct.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Social media users have also been poking fun at how popular the jackets are among the Asian diaspora.—
Stephy Chung,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Start by checking the soil’s moisture by poking a finger 2 inches into the top of the soil.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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JPMorgan sees shares of AeroVironment rising as demand for drones and space capabilities swell.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2026
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The League of Nations is struggling for legitimacy as Germany and Japan withdraw, driven by swelling imperial ambitions.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The kids froze mid-mouthful, eyes bulging in horror at the thought of having to witness such a thing in the company of their parents.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
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The surrounding metropolitan area has similarly bulged.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The event saw several European leaders and policymakers reiterate the need for greater defense spending to accelerate the continent's strategic autonomy, with discussions of a common nuclear shield.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
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Its members are pushing legislation to accelerate encampment sweeps and eliminate a longstanding local requirement that the city offer shelter to residents when forcing them to move.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Integrating unmanned logistics The Army continues to expand its use of unmanned systems across air and ground domains.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
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However, according to a draft of its charter, its mission has since expanded to address conflicts worldwide.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balloon. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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