as in expanded
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1
as in increased
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the number of students who stay home sick balloons every winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in protruded
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the paper bag ballooned and blew away as the wind lifted it skyward
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballooned
CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
The national debt has ballooned to just under $39 trillion, and the government has been running budget deficits for years.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
Down With the Ship BY 1981, PRAGER’S OPERATION had ballooned into a loose network of half a dozen boats, a pirate fleet of vessels usually found floating around the Caribbean.
—Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026
By the time building was complete in 2023, the final cost had ballooned to $65 million.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
There had always been a few Kennedy acolytes hanging around the block, Dean says, but that number has ballooned since Ryan Murphy’s Love Story premiered in February.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 12 Mar. 2026
While the expenses ballooned, so did the timeline, meaning the W140 hit the market 18 months late.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2026
But in the years since Covid began driving patients online, the number of physicians seeking multi-state licensure has ballooned to support the growing field of telehealth.
—Katie Palmer, STAT, 12 Mar. 2026
His price ballooned well beyond what the Eagles were willing to spend.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Taylor Bol Bowen put an exclamation point on the Crimson Tide response with two dunks and a 3-pointer as the lead ballooned to 20.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
The national debt has ballooned to just under $39 trillion, and the government has been running budget deficits for years.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
Down With the Ship BY 1981, PRAGER’S OPERATION had ballooned into a loose network of half a dozen boats, a pirate fleet of vessels usually found floating around the Caribbean.
—Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026
By the time building was complete in 2023, the final cost had ballooned to $65 million.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
There had always been a few Kennedy acolytes hanging around the block, Dean says, but that number has ballooned since Ryan Murphy’s Love Story premiered in February.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 12 Mar. 2026
While the expenses ballooned, so did the timeline, meaning the W140 hit the market 18 months late.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2026
But in the years since Covid began driving patients online, the number of physicians seeking multi-state licensure has ballooned to support the growing field of telehealth.
—Katie Palmer, STAT, 12 Mar. 2026
His price ballooned well beyond what the Eagles were willing to spend.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Verb
-
Oklahoma City increased its lead to 24 and never was threatened after taking a 65-43 lead into halftime.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
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However, permanent green cards for high-priority relatives of citizens, including young children, parents and spouses, increased by 6% for the first eight months of the year over the same period in 2024.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Or if a finger was so sliced open that the bone protruded.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Big, waxy flowers called lobster claws protruded from thick stalks.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The next morning, doctors noted that his tongue had become swollen, DHS said.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Mpox symptoms include a sometimes painful, blistery rash on various parts of the body, fever, chills, exhaustion, muscle aches, headache, swollen lymph nodes and respiratory symptoms, according to the CDC.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport – where wait times swelled to four hours again early Thursday – has seen some of the most severe impacts, along with travel hubs in New York and Atlanta.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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The interest cost has swelled to $140 million, and the bonds will be paid off after seven years, not five.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Since then, the president has repeatedly poked at the vulnerability.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Many spectators poked fun at the efforts of Chicago police to confiscate and collect BORGs in viral posts over the weekend.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose more than 600 points, while equities in Europe also bounced back on hopes that the Middle East conflict — which had driven oil prices higher and fueled recession fears — may be nearing a resolution.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
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More than 200 Hindi language films were released in 2024, earning a total of ₹4,679 Cr (roughly $560 million) in the domestic box office; in 2025, that figure rose to ₹5,504 Cr ($600 million).—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Angelenos’ eyes bulged at the $1,500-a-head price tag.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
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Taking new measurements, the researchers saw that as fluid gushed between cells, creating indentations in their cell membranes, bubbles mostly bulged into weaker cells.—
Clare Watson,
Quanta Magazine,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The distended episodes were littered with what feels like filler, little of which offered much in the way of narrative value.—
Emma Flint,
IndieWire,
25 Nov. 2025
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Once per act, a second duo crashes in on Didi and Gogo, providing the tramps’ power balance with a lurid, distended foil.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ballooned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooned. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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