ballooned 1 of 2

adjective

as in expanded

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ballooned

2 of 2

verb

past tense of balloon
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ballooned
Verb
What started out as a small competition with a few analyst teams presenting ideas to the CEO has since ballooned into one of the company’s most popular events of the year. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026 In the years since its inception, Evolution Mallorca ballooned into a destination festival showcasing the best of cinema produced in the region but also attracting major international names. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026 The docket of renovation projects has ballooned over the months, drawing in at least nine judges so far. — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 The 18 dates announced at the start of last week has now ballooned to 26, and stretches into November 2027, with additional shows locked in for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026 Unsurprisingly, this has ballooned into a national story with teammates and opponents staging protests. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Shoppers hoping for a respite from rising inflation were again disappointed in September, as prices ballooned again, far overshooting the Federal Reserve’s target rate. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 County made a trio of 3-pointers in the second half as the lead ballooned to as many as 24 points with about four and a half minutes to play. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 13 Oct. 2026 The Frow Is the Show For many brands, the front row has ballooned in size, importance, or both, with return on invite closely monitored. — Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
  1. swollen
  2. increased
  3. protruded
  4. distended
  5. swelled
  6. poked
  7. puffed
  8. rose
Adjective
  • As the cooling metal tool depuffs swollen tissues and stimulates microcirculation, the peptide-rich cream works beneath the surface to rebuild structural volume.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In addition, her arms were left swollen, blistered and bruised from the lethal injection drugs.
    — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of swollen
Verb
  • During a July 27 Highfill Water and Sewer Committee meeting, Kahrl reported the number of active water meters in the city increased from 2,077 to 2,285 over 12 months.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • More recently, the evolution of AI has increased the ease with which these websites can be populated with content, eliminating the need to pay writers and automating the production of social media posts.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of increased
Verb
  • The semiaquatic predator’s eyes would have also protruded from the skull, similar to the Indian gharial, because the eye sockets were raised like a telescope, Burke added.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The stranger’s hollow cheeks, his dark eyes, whose lashes always appeared wet, the bony shoulders that protruded from the singlet Chee Meng had lent him—all of it frightened Shawn.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of protruded
Adjective
  • Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended.
    — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of distended
Verb
  • The ranks of the protesters have also swelled to include some more opportunistic looters and agitators.
    — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Piper Sandler’s annual teen survey — polling 9,000 teens across 47 states — shows overall beauty spend swelled 7 percent this year, with growth across all key categories, including cosmetics, skin care, hair and fragrance.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of swelled
Verb
  • Kessler, standing nearby during Williams’ postgame news conference, poked his head out from behind a black curtain and gave his teammate a thumbs-up.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Already poked, the league bear hasn’t exactly gone into hibernation, either.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of poked
Adjective
  • The women wore maroon unitards with subtle puffed sleeves, while Danchig-Waring’s tank unitard featured two faces in profile, each hugging a side of his waist.
    — Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Bake pancake until puffed and brown around edges, 20–25 minutes.
    — Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of puffed
Verb
  • During Lula's first two terms in office, from 2003 to 2010, Brazil's economy boomed, and millions of Brazilians rose out of poverty.
    — Catherine Osborn, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Was the last petal from the enchanted rose about to fall, this beauty of a season due to turn ugly?
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of rose

Browse Nearby Words

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ballooned
ballooning
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Cite this Entry

“Ballooned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooned. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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