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
Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
Experts say that targeting criminal organizations’ financial operations is essential to reducing their power, which has ballooned in the past decades, and more effective than deadly police raids in Brazil’s poor, urban communities.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
As conferences have ballooned to upwards of 18 members, unequal conference schedules have become a larger discussion within leagues.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Billionaire wealth in California ballooned 30-fold over the past 40 years, according to NBER, while total household wealth has only doubled.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 27 May 2026
The lead ballooned to 73-48 by the end of the third quarter.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Crawley claims Augment’s assets—almost entirely pre-IPO shares in private tech companies—have ballooned from under $200 million to more than $1 billion over the last 12 months, driven largely by Anthropic’s skyrocketing value.
—Phoebe Liu, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Shein was founded in China but has ballooned into a global giant, up on the latest TikTok micro-trends with dresses under $15 and jewelry under $5.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 22 May 2026
Originally launched ahead of Cannes by roughly 600 French film professionals, the petition has ballooned to more than 3,500 signatures in the wake of comments made by Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada during the festival.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 22 May 2026
Verb
These enclaves emerged as cruise ships ballooned in size and can provide a more private, serene experience away from the ever-growing roster of restaurants, theaters, water parks, and entertainment venues.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
Experts say that targeting criminal organizations’ financial operations is essential to reducing their power, which has ballooned in the past decades, and more effective than deadly police raids in Brazil’s poor, urban communities.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
As conferences have ballooned to upwards of 18 members, unequal conference schedules have become a larger discussion within leagues.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Billionaire wealth in California ballooned 30-fold over the past 40 years, according to NBER, while total household wealth has only doubled.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 27 May 2026
The lead ballooned to 73-48 by the end of the third quarter.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
Crawley claims Augment’s assets—almost entirely pre-IPO shares in private tech companies—have ballooned from under $200 million to more than $1 billion over the last 12 months, driven largely by Anthropic’s skyrocketing value.
—Phoebe Liu, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Shein was founded in China but has ballooned into a global giant, up on the latest TikTok micro-trends with dresses under $15 and jewelry under $5.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 22 May 2026
Originally launched ahead of Cannes by roughly 600 French film professionals, the petition has ballooned to more than 3,500 signatures in the wake of comments made by Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada during the festival.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Verb
-
Ghirri’s oversize Polaroids, which increased the usual scale of his modest images to roughly tabloid size, were mounted on hefty support columns clad in coir, a jute-like material used for doormats, obviously intended to thwart any suggestion of monumentality.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Local leaders in Greeley say demand for power has increased significantly in recent decades.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The hilt of a sword protruded from his back, snug beside a pack as tight as an angry fist.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
Under the flaps of his jacket there was a small tear in his T-shirt, directly over his left nipple, which protruded like a knot of purple rope.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Most adults including pregnant people either have no symptoms or experience mild, flu-like illness such as fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, and muscle or joint aches.—
Dr. Megan Yanny,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
First symptoms often include extreme tiredness, headaches, swollen lymph nodes and muscle aches.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Her siblings swelled with pride, and perhaps a dash of envy.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
-
The petition has since swelled to more than 3,500 signatures, drawing international support from Javier Bardem, Mark Ruffalo and Ken Loach, among others.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Even at the height of his fame, there were dubious aspects of his personal life — often self-seeded to sustain his enigma — that poked hellified holes in his impermeability as an entertainer.—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
-
In the roadside planters, green sprouts poked up.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Guests arrive at breakfast in white linen shirts and silver Havanas and hang out by the pool drinking bottles of Provencal rose rather than piña coladas.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
But her star rose and that joyful, beautiful, rather guileless young woman trying to stay cool in a hot city summer lives forever.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Her stomach bulged beneath her I ❤ FLORIDA boatneck and her face was round and waxy-pale.—
Stephen King,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
-
The Apple engineers’ eyes bulged in astonishment.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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 5 Jun. 2026.
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