as in expanded
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
The number of documents subject to review ballooned to roughly 6 million, including duplicates.
—Eric Tucker, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
The number of documents subject to review has ballooned to roughly six million, including duplicates, the department said.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
The number of documents subject to review has ballooned to roughly 6 million, including duplicates, the department said.
—Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The lead ballooned to 27-9 when the Gophers turned a Wisconsin turnover into a jumper by Kai Shinholster from the top of the key.
—Jim Hoehn, Twin Cities, 29 Jan. 2026
The size of the federal force in Minnesota has also ballooned.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 29 Jan. 2026
This does not prevent the sports-media ecosystem from orbiting around prediction-making, an obsession that has only ballooned in the age of legal sports betting.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026
Net immigration ballooned during the Biden administration, when border crossings hit record highs, until policies enacted in 2024, such as restrictions on asylum applications, slowed that growth.
—Julia Ingram, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
The GoFundMe campaign ballooned to more than $90,000 in donations.
—Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
The number of documents subject to review ballooned to roughly 6 million, including duplicates.
—Eric Tucker, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
The number of documents subject to review has ballooned to roughly six million, including duplicates, the department said.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
The number of documents subject to review has ballooned to roughly 6 million, including duplicates, the department said.
—Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The lead ballooned to 27-9 when the Gophers turned a Wisconsin turnover into a jumper by Kai Shinholster from the top of the key.
—Jim Hoehn, Twin Cities, 29 Jan. 2026
The size of the federal force in Minnesota has also ballooned.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 29 Jan. 2026
This does not prevent the sports-media ecosystem from orbiting around prediction-making, an obsession that has only ballooned in the age of legal sports betting.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2026
Net immigration ballooned during the Biden administration, when border crossings hit record highs, until policies enacted in 2024, such as restrictions on asylum applications, slowed that growth.
—Julia Ingram, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Verb
-
That figure is used to determine the league’s cut, which for all local TV deals has since increased from 34% to 48%.—
Maury Brown,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the average new car payment has increased by $300, or more than 35%, since then to $769.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Spider-y lash extensions protruded from her lash line, reaching to the bottom of her brows; a thin wing of black liner was drawn from the outer corners of her eyes.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump has attributed bruising on his hands to his heavy intake of aspirin to thin his blood and swollen ankles to chronic venous insufficiency.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
-
If the cans are only swollen, the food may be safe to eat.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Anger swelled again in August 2024 after the Detroit Free Press broke the story locally that the landfill was preparing to take 6,000 cubic yards of soil and concrete with elevated radioactivity from the Niagara Falls Storage Site in Lewiston, New York.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
But Peacock’s losses swelled to $552 million in the fourth quarter as the streaming service absorbed the expense of NBC’s NBA TV rights agreement and an exclusive NFL game.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
During the winter storm, the department’s official X account went viral for a series of self-aware, tongue-in-cheek posts that poked fun at drivers, the weather and even the officers themselves.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Hadn’t poked my nose in anywhere, hadn’t seen anything, and just really enjoyed watching the film.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Eagle numbers rose significantly first in the 1990s, then continued to increase.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Alcoholic Sparkling Wines For Valentine’s Day Do Epic Sh*t sparkling wine now comes in a 'pretty in pink' rose as well, available at the end of January 2026.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The surrounding metropolitan area has similarly bulged.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Even pre-Covid, his pockets bulged with hand sanitizer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 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 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
