as in expanded
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballooned
John Seewer, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile security lines have ballooned with officials estimating wait times could reach four hours.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Kneuppel, who appears to be headlining the two-man Rookie of the Year race (Dallas’ Cooper Flagg is the other award hopeful), hit six 3s for 26 points to help the Hornets build a lead that ballooned to as large as 21 in the fourth quarter.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
Cicada still accounts for only a small number of cases in the United States, but has ballooned to represent up to 30% in some European countries.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
The project’s budget also ballooned by $27 million, from $54 million to $81 million.
—Everton Bailey Jr, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
The government shutdown straining Transportation Security Administration staffing has ballooned checkpoint wait times beyond two hours at some major airports.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Taylor Bol Bowen put an exclamation point on the Crimson Tide response with two dunks and a 3-pointer as the lead ballooned to 20.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
The national debt has ballooned to just under $39 trillion, and the government has been running budget deficits for years.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
The government shutdown straining Transportation Security Administration staffing has ballooned checkpoint wait times beyond two hours at some major airports.
—John Seewer, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile security lines have ballooned with officials estimating wait times could reach four hours.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Kneuppel, who appears to be headlining the two-man Rookie of the Year race (Dallas’ Cooper Flagg is the other award hopeful), hit six 3s for 26 points to help the Hornets build a lead that ballooned to as large as 21 in the fourth quarter.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
Cicada still accounts for only a small number of cases in the United States, but has ballooned to represent up to 30% in some European countries.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
The project’s budget also ballooned by $27 million, from $54 million to $81 million.
—Everton Bailey Jr, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
The government shutdown straining Transportation Security Administration staffing has ballooned checkpoint wait times beyond two hours at some major airports.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Taylor Bol Bowen put an exclamation point on the Crimson Tide response with two dunks and a 3-pointer as the lead ballooned to 20.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
The national debt has ballooned to just under $39 trillion, and the government has been running budget deficits for years.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Verb
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Oklahoma City increased its lead to 24 and never was threatened after taking a 65-43 lead into halftime.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
However, permanent green cards for high-priority relatives of citizens, including young children, parents and spouses, increased by 6% for the first eight months of the year over the same period in 2024.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Or if a finger was so sliced open that the bone protruded.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Big, waxy flowers called lobster claws protruded from thick stalks.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
On the third day, his forehead and eyes were puffy and swollen.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The next morning, doctors noted that his tongue had become swollen, DHS said.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport – where wait times swelled to four hours again early Thursday – has seen some of the most severe impacts, along with travel hubs in New York and Atlanta.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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The interest cost has swelled to $140 million, and the bonds will be paid off after seven years, not five.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Since then, the president has repeatedly poked at the vulnerability.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Many spectators poked fun at the efforts of Chicago police to confiscate and collect BORGs in viral posts over the weekend.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose more than 600 points, while equities in Europe also bounced back on hopes that the Middle East conflict — which had driven oil prices higher and fueled recession fears — may be nearing a resolution.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
-
More than 200 Hindi language films were released in 2024, earning a total of ₹4,679 Cr (roughly $560 million) in the domestic box office; in 2025, that figure rose to ₹5,504 Cr ($600 million).—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 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
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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 31 Mar. 2026.
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