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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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

Medicare has covered remote patient monitoring since 2018, and payments ballooned to over $500 million in 2024. — Mario Aguilar, STAT, 15 July 2026 As the deployment has continued and the number of troops in the city has ballooned, so has anti-National Guard sentiment. — Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 14 July 2026 In the three decades since, the tournament has ballooned both by number of teams and revenue generated. — Eric Nager, Christian Science Monitor, 13 July 2026 Our top line grew exponentially, but our cost to support and maintain that customer also ballooned. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 The city’s population has ballooned by 30% over the last five years to more than 30,000 residents, and city officials aren’t expecting that growth to slow down. — Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 8 July 2026 Those petitions ballooned after the administration began limiting the ability of many immigrants to seek release through bond hearings in immigration court. — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Adventure bikes have ballooned into 600-pound continent crushers. — New Atlas, 6 July 2026 Stephanopoulos pressed Burgum on why the cost of the no-bid contract has ballooned from $2 million to more than $15 million, while the pool still isn’t fixed. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 5 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned

Adjective

Johnson’s carapace is detailed with skin-like textures, swollen bicep veins and living tattoos that offer him encouragement and advice.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
The next morning, March 14, doctors noted that his tongue had become swollen, DHS said.

— Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2026

Definition of swollen

Verb

And Harleys has entirely redesigned the rear -suspension and increased its travel 117 per cent to five inches (13 cm).

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
The share of workers with hybrid schedules has increased a bit, while the share in fully remote positions has only seen a slight decline.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 July 2026

Definition of increased

Verb

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
The problem was that many of them protruded from the front of vehicles like miniature medieval weapons.

— Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Definition of protruded

Verb

At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the championship’s premiere race, the entry list swelled to 62.

— Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Dozens of people have been rescued from catastrophic flooding in southeastern Missouri, including some camping along a river that swelled to historic heights.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

Definition of swelled

Verb

It’s now understood that Russia in 2016 poked the election systems in all 50 states to check what protections were in place and accessed—but did not change—some very local registration rosters in Florida and Illinois.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 17 July 2026
The teen said Jones poked his head through the doorway, then returned to the room and continued firing before leaving the apartment.

— Eleanor Jacobs, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Definition of poked

Adjective

Cover pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer, checking occasionally to make sure water isn’t boiling too rapidly, until matzo balls are very puffed and light in color, 30–40 minutes.

— Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026
Bake, 1 baking sheet at a time, in preheated oven until slightly puffed and golden brown, about 12 minutes.

— Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026

Definition of puffed

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“Ballooned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooned. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of ballooned

adjective

verb

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