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
Alina Selyukh, NPR, 22 May 2026
Originally launched ahead of Cannes by roughly 600 French film professionals, the petition has ballooned to more than 3,500 signatures in the wake of comments made by Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada during the festival.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 22 May 2026
But as the ratification fight dragged on, the series ballooned.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
Love for Joe’s ballooned, so much so that it couldn’t be contained to one building.
—Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
The switch ballooned mortgage rates.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 19 May 2026
Live game rights have ballooned across the board domestically and have even taken over TV’s Upfronts.
—John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
Take note that the Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) , which has Micron Technology , SK Hynix and Samsung as its largest holdings, has already ballooned to $10 billion in assets under management, after only launching a little over a month ago.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 15 May 2026
But the gulf has ballooned back to 28 points this term, and this month a rejuvenated City cruised to a 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Verb
Shein was founded in China but has ballooned into a global giant, up on the latest TikTok micro-trends with dresses under $15 and jewelry under $5.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 22 May 2026
Originally launched ahead of Cannes by roughly 600 French film professionals, the petition has ballooned to more than 3,500 signatures in the wake of comments made by Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada during the festival.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 22 May 2026
But as the ratification fight dragged on, the series ballooned.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
Love for Joe’s ballooned, so much so that it couldn’t be contained to one building.
—Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
The switch ballooned mortgage rates.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 19 May 2026
Live game rights have ballooned across the board domestically and have even taken over TV’s Upfronts.
—John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
Take note that the Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) , which has Micron Technology , SK Hynix and Samsung as its largest holdings, has already ballooned to $10 billion in assets under management, after only launching a little over a month ago.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 15 May 2026
But the gulf has ballooned back to 28 points this term, and this month a rejuvenated City cruised to a 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Verb
-
The lead times for high-voltage transformers, essential for grid interconnection, have increased to as long as four years.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
On Darlene Lane, the flow of contamination increased in late April and continues to seep into their neighbor’s yard.—
Nick Bowlin,
ProPublica,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The hilt of a sword protruded from his back, snug beside a pack as tight as an angry fist.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
Under the flaps of his jacket there was a small tear in his T-shirt, directly over his left nipple, which protruded like a knot of purple rope.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The child’s eyes were swollen and milky, their mouth agape in a silent moan.—
Taran Dugal,
New Yorker,
23 May 2026
-
The board sees a swollen number without knowing which part is measured, which is estimated and which depends on triggers that haven't occurred.—
Maman Ibrahim,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Becerra has since won endorsements from influential labor groups and Latino state leaders, and his once anemic fundraising has swelled.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
-
The popularity of Dry January has swelled.—
Luis Parrales,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The Angels added two runs in the eighth inning when Josh Lowe poked a double just over the head of Gelof at third base to score Nolan Schanuel and Logan O’Hoppe.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
-
In the same show, Louis Theroux made a cameo, and Gatwa poked fun at his time as Doctor Who.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Data from travel booking platform TrainPal shows that in April, purchases by UK residents of Eurostar tickets to France jumped 42% month-over-month and rose 25% year-over-year.—
,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
-
The pair wiped away tears as the audience rose to their feet in applause following the screening.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Her stomach bulged beneath her I ❤ FLORIDA boatneck and her face was round and waxy-pale.—
Stephen King,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
-
The Apple engineers’ eyes bulged in astonishment.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
24 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
-
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 26 May. 2026.
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