BALLOONED Synonyms: 93 Similar and Opposite Words

ballooned 1 of 2

adjective

as in expanded

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ballooned

2 of 2

verb

past tense of balloon

as in increased

to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number the number of students who stay home sick balloons every winter

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Shirts were punctuated by knife pleats that ballooned in the back, while cascading pleats fluttered down the side of skirts. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026 On Wednesday the prince was backed by a whole new set of lock-screen photos and said the number had ballooned. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026 The state’s insurer of last resort, known as the FAIR Plan, has ballooned in size since 2019, after a series of devastating wildfires and escalating reinsurance costs led to mass cancellations of insurance policies across the state. — Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026 Bilateral trade between China and Russia ballooned to over $240 billion in 2024. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 The roles there often come with grueling 12-hour shifts, but when thousands of workers threatened strikes at Micron, Samsung and SK Hynix, bonuses ballooned upwards of $500,000. — Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026 The number of arrests ballooned after ICE set an ambitious goal of 2,000 per day. — Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2026 The high speed rail project, which voters first approved nearly 20 years ago, has become a political liability for Democrats as budget estimates have ballooned and the project has been delayed for years due to litigation and regulatory hurdles. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026 Prices had already been on the rise in recent years as EVs ballooned in popularity in Asia and Europe. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned

Adjective

The woman, who sustained a swollen and bloody face, was subsequently released from custody, the BBC said.

— Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
In addition to his eye being swollen shut and cheek cut, Bregman also has gauze inserted in his left nostril, where some bleeding had occurred.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of swollen

Verb

Tensions have surged in the West Bank, and extremist Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians have increased exponentially, emboldened by right-wing, ultra-nationalist politicians in Israel's government.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
Now, with growing bipartisan opposition to the rapid buildout of data centers suggest that even ordinary residents of communities and voters have increased power to help pace the frontier from the bottom up.

— Bhaskar Chakravorti, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of increased

Verb

In several looks, the hips protruded impressively outward, but the silhouette appeared more subtle and somewhat suitable for everyday wear in the label’s delicate camisole tops.

— Kelly Niesen, Glamour, 24 July 2026
The skinny braids wrapped the bottom of the bun, while the thicker braids dressed the top, forming a cylinder shape that protruded from the crown of her head.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 29 June 2026

Definition of protruded

Verb

Hundreds of fans who had been waiting in line missed the chance to see The Library Show, after the rotunda swelled to its legal capacity in just 20 minutes.

— Anya Sesay, jsonline.com, 21 Sep. 2026
But calls for Israel to be kicked out have swelled over the conduct of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of swelled

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ballooned

ballooning

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

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Synonyms of ballooned

adjective

verb

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