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
Trump has been pressuring the Fed to lower interest rates as a way to save financing costs on the nation’s ballooning national debt.
—
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 June 2025
Oklahoma City quickly called a timeout, but the pause did not stop the onslaught, with its deficit quickly ballooning to 28 within minutes.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 June 2025
By 2024, the annual deficit had ballooned to $1.8 trillion, or 6.4% of GDP.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
But the parade feature was added in recent months, ballooning the budget by tens of millions for the already large-scale event and leaving planners for both the city and military scrambling to prepare.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 23 June 2025
Oklahoma City quickly called a timeout, but the pause did not stop the onslaught, with its deficit quickly ballooning to 28 within minutes.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 June 2025
By 2024, the annual deficit had ballooned to $1.8 trillion, or 6.4% of GDP.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
But the parade feature was added in recent months, ballooning the budget by tens of millions for the already large-scale event and leaving planners for both the city and military scrambling to prepare.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balloon
Verb
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The gap between the top 75th percentile and the bottom 25th percentile performers increased by 1.5 times in Q1 2025 compared to a year earlier, with market leaders continuing to charge ahead while the bottom 20% to 30% of the sector continued to report a reduction in growth.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
19 June 2025
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In the long term, budget experts warn that an aging population and rising health care costs mean entitlement spending will gobble an increasing percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).—
Kristina Karisch,
The Hill,
19 June 2025
Verb
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The first-gen roam the mainland naked because of the idea that their clothes disintegrated long ago, and their appearances are characterized by veins that protrude from their body in revolting knots.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 June 2025
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After making sure the point is protruding slightly from one side of the bait, take the extra few seconds to remove scales all around the point.—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
19 June 2025
Verb
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Mason West is a 6-foot-6, 220-pound rising senior at Edina (Minn.) High School.—
Phil Thompson,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2025
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Refill and reuse is a rising movement: both a return to commonsense practices our grandparents knew — and a path forward toward innovation.—
Rachel Bustamante,
Baltimore Sun,
28 June 2025
Verb
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Cunningham came to the defense of her teammate Clark, retaliating with less than a minute left on the clock after, earlier in the game, the Fever's superstar player was poked in the eye and then knocked to the ground by two separate Sun players.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
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Sheldon poked Clark in the eye while defending her.—
Doug Feinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2025
Verb
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LoPresti said southern flannel moths sting through venomous hairs that can cause burning, numbness, swelling, and in severe cases, nausea or full-limb inflammation.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2025
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As of Wednesday, the number had swelled to 1,218, according to the ACLU of Southern California.—
Jenny Jarvie,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
Verb
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If the surface bulges outward at that point, then the flow moves inward.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
31 Mar. 2025
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Photos posted online showed the snake arrived at a Virginia animal hospital with a bulging body.—
Simone Jasper,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Putting oneself in those situations that challenge conversational comfort zones and embracing discomfort, tension and unresolved conflicts accelerates growth significantly.—
Chris Schembra,
Rolling Stone,
26 June 2025
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India’s space ambitions have accelerated under Modi, who was elected to a third term last June and has tried to assert India’s place on the global stage.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
26 June 2025
Verb
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However, as has been the case with other annual shopping events, retailers expanded the promotional period to start May 13, a week earlier than in 2024, before ending June 18.—
Bernice Ooi,
CNBC,
20 June 2025
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Last year, his position expanded to include chief franchise officer.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balloon. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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