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
Relevance
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
as in expanded
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballooned
Paul Taylor, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, Brazil’s market share of Chinese soybean imports have ballooned to 71% as of last year, according to the ASA.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2025
But when her therapist stopped taking insurance, Johansson's $30 copay ballooned to $275 a session overnight.
—Windsor Johnston, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025
The influencer industry has ballooned to a $250 billion industry according to a 2023 report by Goldman Sachs, and is set to roughly double to $480 billion by 2027.
—Taylor Lorenz, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
Ridership using Access-on-Demand has ballooned tenfold since the program began five years ago.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025
Since then, Prime has ballooned into a multi-pronged service that offers streaming entertainment, grocery delivery, fuel and food delivery perks, as well as subscriber-only deals.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Miamians’ transportation expenses ballooned 66% between 2020 and 2023 alone, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, meaning many locals spend nearly 20% of their income just to get around.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
Nationally, rental costs ballooned 39% over five years, with the largest increases in Idaho (57%), Arizona (52%), and Florida and Nevada (46%).
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
As the pre-match warm-up came to an end, Elliot Anderson ballooned a shot into the stands in what should have been his final turn within a shooting exercise.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, Brazil’s market share of Chinese soybean imports have ballooned to 71% as of last year, according to the ASA.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2025
But when her therapist stopped taking insurance, Johansson's $30 copay ballooned to $275 a session overnight.
—Windsor Johnston, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025
The influencer industry has ballooned to a $250 billion industry according to a 2023 report by Goldman Sachs, and is set to roughly double to $480 billion by 2027.
—Taylor Lorenz, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025
Ridership using Access-on-Demand has ballooned tenfold since the program began five years ago.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025
Since then, Prime has ballooned into a multi-pronged service that offers streaming entertainment, grocery delivery, fuel and food delivery perks, as well as subscriber-only deals.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
Miamians’ transportation expenses ballooned 66% between 2020 and 2023 alone, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, meaning many locals spend nearly 20% of their income just to get around.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
Nationally, rental costs ballooned 39% over five years, with the largest increases in Idaho (57%), Arizona (52%), and Florida and Nevada (46%).
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Verb
-
In recent years the amount of screen time at school has increased as students and teachers transition to digital learning.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
-
What To Know OpenMinds said that Russia had increased its contract military recruitment in 2025, with a 40 percent year-on-year increase in social media ads, especially on the social network VK, during the first half of 2025.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
His bones visibly protruded from his thin skin, according to court documents.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The protests then swelled to wider calls to stamp out corruption, repression and rising crime under President Dina Boluarte’s rule.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
-
By the time the five members of Tomorrow X Together (TXT for short) appear, not from the stage but through the pit doors, weaving past the barricades and into the sea of fans, the noise has swelled to seismic levels.—
Crystal Bell,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Because tiny holes are poked into the soil surface, more nutrients can reach greater soil depths.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
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In a 2019 post celebrating his third wedding anniversary with Miles, Minoso poked fun at his character’s romantic shortcomings.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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To avoid tired, swollen feet, swap your ankle socks out for these Charmking compression socks, which promote good blood circulation in the air.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Affecting around five to 10 million people worldwide, ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-term inflammatory disease that causes the gut lining to become swollen and develop ulcers.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This set of seven makeup brushes comes in a leather case with a shiny rose gold finish.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
-
When the sun rose on the 17th, it was revealed that the colonists—possibly out of a last-minute change of plans, possibly out of moonlit confusion—had built a rough defensive fort on the other hill, Breed’s Hill.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Artificial intelligence has accelerated demand, creating an urgent need for more efficient infrastructure.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
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At the same time, by driving down costs through scale, China has accelerated clean-tech uptake in countries from Pakistan to Brazil to Indonesia.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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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
-
Following too much pasta or one too many sweet treats, my stomach gets quite sensitive—resulting in a feeling of tightness and a distended, rumbling tummy.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ballooned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooned. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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