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
Relevance
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
as in expanded
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballooned
Kiri Masters, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Demonstrators first took to the streets on Monday to push back against the country’s rising cost of living, and the protests have since ballooned and become violent after a police vehicle killed a 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver at a rally on Thursday.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2025
That's when Kraft ballooned to include Nabisco, Jell-O, Maxwell House and hot-dog maker Oscar Mayer.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
Total rides through the program have ballooned over the past few years — from 21,823 in 2023 to 295,261 in the last fiscal year.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Sep. 2025
He’s inspired by more mature lax equipment companies such as East Coast Dyes, a manufacturer that has ballooned into a multimillion-dollar business since launching in 2011.
—Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 22 Aug. 2025
With limited access to crack, an appetite suppressant, Frierson ballooned to over 400 pounds.
—Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Fried somehow got the win in that outing, but his ERA ballooned to over three for the first time since his first appearance.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
The broadband-beaming fleet has ballooned to more than 8,000 operational spacecraft since those first deployments, pushing the total number of satellites circling Earth to over 15,000.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Retail media has ballooned into a $60 billion business, on track to capture one in five advertising dollars.
—Kiri Masters, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Demonstrators first took to the streets on Monday to push back against the country’s rising cost of living, and the protests have since ballooned and become violent after a police vehicle killed a 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver at a rally on Thursday.
—Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2025
That's when Kraft ballooned to include Nabisco, Jell-O, Maxwell House and hot-dog maker Oscar Mayer.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
Total rides through the program have ballooned over the past few years — from 21,823 in 2023 to 295,261 in the last fiscal year.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Sep. 2025
He’s inspired by more mature lax equipment companies such as East Coast Dyes, a manufacturer that has ballooned into a multimillion-dollar business since launching in 2011.
—Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 22 Aug. 2025
With limited access to crack, an appetite suppressant, Frierson ballooned to over 400 pounds.
—Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Fried somehow got the win in that outing, but his ERA ballooned to over three for the first time since his first appearance.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
The broadband-beaming fleet has ballooned to more than 8,000 operational spacecraft since those first deployments, pushing the total number of satellites circling Earth to over 15,000.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Verb
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For example, Doak kicked on so impressively at Middlesbrough in 2024-25 that his value increased to the point that Bournemouth paid £25m for him.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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The rate of lifetime depression among women has increased by over 40% in the last decade, yet periods like postpartum and perimenopause remain under-addressed in mainstream mental health care.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Following the surgery, his body swelled dangerously, and his lungs collapsed, forcing doctors to place him on a ventilator.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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The ranks have swelled to four teams with the addition of the Firefighters and Texas Tailgaters.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The post, which shared several photos from the outing, also poked fun at the couple getting caught in the rain while meeting with schoolchildren at the museum.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
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While some people argued that the photo was degrading to women, Carpenter stood by the photo and poked fun at the controversy while sharing alternate album covers.—
Katherine Schaffstall,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This can also be caused by a lack of sleep—which also comes with risks of chronic fatigue, thinning hair and swollen lower eyelids.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Trump’s apparently swollen ankles, which were photographed at the FIFA Club World Cup Final in July, have been connected to the condition.—
Ty Roush,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That increase was fueled largely by national revenue — television, licensing and sponsorship proceeds shared equally among the 32 franchises — which rose to an average of $433 million per team from $403 million the previous season, according to league executives.—
Michael Ozanian,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
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In the second quarter, sales rose 14 percent, compared with growth of 12 percent in the first quarter.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The independent brand picked up momentum in secondary channels in May, when turnover rose to 36 percent and accelerated further in June, peaking at 43 percent.—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
8 Sep. 2025
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In addition, Borenstein has accelerated the brand’s progress toward its sustainability commitments, including climate-positive by 2025 and a new commitment to be fully circular by 2030.—
WWD Staff,
Footwear News,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Following too much pasta or one too many sweet treats, my stomach gets quite sensitive—resulting in a feeling of tightness and a distended, rumbling tummy.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
20 May 2025
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Bloating causes your belly to feel full and look distended.—
Kathleen Felton,
Health,
9 June 2024
Verb
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Tesla's board has urged shareholders to vote against a proposal calling for a political neutrality policy, which would have expanded board oversight of Musk's political activities.—
Akash Sriram,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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In recent years, Chanel has expanded its support for cinema, which now encompasses everything from costume design to film restoration, in addition to initiatives geared at fostering the next generation of movie directors.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ballooned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooned. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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