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
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
Flooding and water quality needs over the next two decades have ballooned to at least $630 billion, the EPA estimated in 2024.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Her skirt ballooned out into a ruched bubble design with a flirty miniskirt in the front and a longer ankle-grazing length in the back, adding a whimsical yet dramatic element to the look.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
His price ballooned well beyond what the Eagles were willing to spend.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Govan watched as the budget ballooned, and what was initially supposed to be a $650 million building became a $720 million albatross.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
The noted investor said that the risk stems from the pace of expansion in direct lending, which has ballooned to a market now exceeding $1 trillion from its early development around 2011.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
Flooding and water quality needs over the next two decades have ballooned to at least $630 billion, the EPA estimated in 2024.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Her skirt ballooned out into a ruched bubble design with a flirty miniskirt in the front and a longer ankle-grazing length in the back, adding a whimsical yet dramatic element to the look.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
His price ballooned well beyond what the Eagles were willing to spend.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Govan watched as the budget ballooned, and what was initially supposed to be a $650 million building became a $720 million albatross.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
The noted investor said that the risk stems from the pace of expansion in direct lending, which has ballooned to a market now exceeding $1 trillion from its early development around 2011.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Verb
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Claude’s daily active users have also increased by more than 140% since January, according to data from SimilarWeb.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
-
In a decade, spending on street outreach increased by more than 1,000% — now exceeding $300 million a year — while unsheltered homelessness increased by 22%.—
Barbara A. Blair,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Big, waxy flowers called lobster claws protruded from thick stalks.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
-
However, blood was pouring out of Good’s left ear immediately after the shooting, and tissue protruded from the left side of her head, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported last week.—
Theresa Braine,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Early March 14, ICE said in its statement, Mohammed Nazeer Paktiawal was eating breakfast when medical staff noted that his tongue had become swollen, prompting a medical response.—
Marissa Armas,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
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To shorten a branch, make a cut above a healthy bud, and remove whole branches by cutting at an angle at the swollen collar area where the branch meets the trunk.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The number of 24/7 livestreams created per year swelled by about 3,000% between 2019 and 2025, Mauldin’s data show.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The room swelled with hooting and clapping as Samson Fellows climbed onstage.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But researchers who studied crocodiles at an outdoor recreation center near Cape Town appear to have poked a hole in that approach.—
Regina G. Barber,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Flick’s team persisted after the break, pressing high and eventually finding a third goal when Bernal poked home from a Joao Cancelo cross.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cleveland rose from mayor of Buffalo to governor of New York to the White House in a few years.—
Jacob Lane The Chicago Tribune,
Arkansas Online,
17 Mar. 2026
-
That death toll rose this past week.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 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
-
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 17 Mar. 2026.
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