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
Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
Between the end of 2019 and end of 2023, the company’s head count ballooned from 4,000 to almost 13,000 employees, per the WSJ, a major pandemic-era hiring spree.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026
The noted investor said that the risk stems from the pace of expansion in direct lending, which has ballooned to a market now exceeding $1 trillion from its early development around 2011.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Garcia followed up Burroughs’ two made free throws by making both technical foul shots and Saugus’ lead ballooned to 43-33.
—Matt Wagner, Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
Oregon’s lead ballooned to 47-24 at halftime.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Home values and rents have ballooned over the last decade, leaving more residents struggling to cover the cost of living.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 4 Mar. 2026
Amid the rising cost factors, the specialty features of newer high schools and vocational schools have ballooned project prices further.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
The directive comes as city officials try for the second consecutive year to balance a budget deficit that has ballooned to nearly $1 billion over two years.
—Lauren Toms, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Govan watched as the budget ballooned, and what was initially supposed to be a $650 million building became a $720 million albatross.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
Between the end of 2019 and end of 2023, the company’s head count ballooned from 4,000 to almost 13,000 employees, per the WSJ, a major pandemic-era hiring spree.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026
The noted investor said that the risk stems from the pace of expansion in direct lending, which has ballooned to a market now exceeding $1 trillion from its early development around 2011.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Garcia followed up Burroughs’ two made free throws by making both technical foul shots and Saugus’ lead ballooned to 43-33.
—Matt Wagner, Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
Oregon’s lead ballooned to 47-24 at halftime.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Home values and rents have ballooned over the last decade, leaving more residents struggling to cover the cost of living.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 4 Mar. 2026
Amid the rising cost factors, the specialty features of newer high schools and vocational schools have ballooned project prices further.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
The directive comes as city officials try for the second consecutive year to balance a budget deficit that has ballooned to nearly $1 billion over two years.
—Lauren Toms, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Verb
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The spline structure inside the nuts, the non-fixed gripping posture, and interference from magnetic forces significantly increased assembly complexity.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
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Church officials also said its security measures have been increased during the transitional period.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Big, waxy flowers called lobster claws protruded from thick stalks.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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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
Adjective
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The doctor noticed the lymph nodes in Operacz's groin were swollen and sent her to the emergency room.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
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Fluid accumulated in his body, pushing his weight close to 240 pounds and leaving him exhausted and swollen.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But during pregnancy, her body had swelled as a result of fluid retention, putting major pressure on the nerves in her hands and wrists.—
Erin MeanLey,
Parents,
5 Mar. 2026
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Then two years ago, Demings and other county leaders opted against a reboot of the campaign, though transit problems have worsened in Central Florida as its population swelled.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Later in the week, as other analysts poked holes in the Citrini scenario, the market recovered some of its losses.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Second baseman Ethan Mendoza looks like a completely different player, so much so that teammates have poked fun at him in interviews.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Yet oil prices rose just 6% Monday, and gas prices aren’t expected to get close to $5 a gallon anytime soon.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
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Defense and energy stocks in New York rose while shares in travel companies plunged.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Taking new measurements, the researchers saw that as fluid gushed between cells, creating indentations in their cell membranes, bubbles mostly bulged into weaker cells.—
Clare Watson,
Quanta Magazine,
27 Feb. 2026
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The surrounding metropolitan area has similarly bulged.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 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 9 Mar. 2026.
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