as in expanded
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballooned
Carlie Procell, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The demand for slots skyrocketed and the auction prices ballooned in recent weeks as a standoff between the Iran and the United States over access to the strait kept traffic bottlenecked.
—Alma Solis, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
The industry's costs ballooned after Covid, as customer tastes changed for more upmarket offerings and international destinations.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
The cost of the project has ballooned as well, from an original projection of €200 million to €507 million, according to recent estimates.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
When my zine ballooned to over one hundred pages, my stapler refused to bind them, only leaving teeth marks on the cover.
—Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
But what started as a $256 million price tag to purchase and renovate a Flagler Street building that was built for Florida Power and Light in the 1970s has ballooned into a nearly $438 million undertaking, according to internal documents.
—Douglas Hanks
april 8, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Instead, the number attached to the deficit has ballooned.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Two-zip begat 10-1, which led to 16-5, that swelled to a 16-point lead at the half and ballooned at one point to a 30-point lead.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
Hippos have an average lifespan of up to 50 years and no natural predators in Colombia, which is why the population ballooned from just four to nearly 200 today.
—Carlie Procell, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The demand for slots skyrocketed and the auction prices ballooned in recent weeks as a standoff between the Iran and the United States over access to the strait kept traffic bottlenecked.
—Alma Solis, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
The industry's costs ballooned after Covid, as customer tastes changed for more upmarket offerings and international destinations.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
The cost of the project has ballooned as well, from an original projection of €200 million to €507 million, according to recent estimates.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
When my zine ballooned to over one hundred pages, my stapler refused to bind them, only leaving teeth marks on the cover.
—Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
But what started as a $256 million price tag to purchase and renovate a Flagler Street building that was built for Florida Power and Light in the 1970s has ballooned into a nearly $438 million undertaking, according to internal documents.
—Douglas Hanks
april 8, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Instead, the number attached to the deficit has ballooned.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Two-zip begat 10-1, which led to 16-5, that swelled to a 16-point lead at the half and ballooned at one point to a 30-point lead.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Verb
-
On the other hand, planting the wrong neighbors next to garlic can lead to altered flavors, stunted growth, increased susceptibility to pests, and decreased production.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Apr. 2026
-
But having one of the game’s fastest players start at second base in the bottom of the 10th gave the Cubs an advantage, which increased after Caleb Thielbar pitched a scoreless top of the 10th.—
Andy Martinez,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Shards of glass and ceramic, rusted metal, medical and bio-waste, syringes, cracked circuit boards, and broken electronics protruded everywhere.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Or if a finger was so sliced open that the bone protruded.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Nolan developed esophageal varices, which are swollen veins in the esophagus that can burst and bleed.—
Camila Gomez,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Plant them alongside companion plants like potatoes, peppers, beans, or peas, but avoid garlic, onions, and other cruciferous plants that may increase the risk of both plants suffering from a fungal disease that causes swollen roots and eventual death.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Spring rains and winter snowmelt have swelled rivers and lakes, forcing torrents of water through Cheboygan County communities on its way to Lake Huron.—
Sarah Brumfield,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Spring rains and winter snowmelt have swelled rivers and lakes, forcing torrents of water through Cheboygan County communities on its way to Lake Huron.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Lakers guard reached and poked the ball away.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The couple poked fun at the social media conversation surrounding them in an Instagram Reel.—
Athena Sobhan,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Aromatic garlic deters many rose pests, including aphids, spider mites, Japanese beetles, and deer.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The away fans rose to salute their team with warm applause and chants of support.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Apple engineers’ eyes bulged in astonishment.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Angelenos’ eyes bulged at the $1,500-a-head price tag.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Mar. 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
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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 28 Apr. 2026.
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