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
Devika Krishna Kumar, Fortune, 6 June 2026
The city of Boise paused a water recycling project after its price tag ballooned from $56 million to $750 million.
—Idaho Statesman, 4 June 2026
The cost ballooned from the initial estimates of $350 million.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
Those situations — runners in scoring position — ballooned the Royals’ team totals in 2024.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026
Anthropic has experienced explosive growth this year, announcing in May that its revenue run rate had ballooned to $47 billion, up from $10 billion in revenue in 2025.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 2 June 2026
That wouldn’t change if the CFP ballooned to 48 teams.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 1 June 2026
These enclaves emerged as cruise ships ballooned in size and can provide a more private, serene experience away from the ever-growing roster of restaurants, theaters, water parks, and entertainment venues.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
Crawley claims Augment’s assets—almost entirely pre-IPO shares in private tech companies—have ballooned from under $200 million to more than $1 billion over the last 12 months, driven largely by Anthropic’s skyrocketing value.
—Phoebe Liu, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Verb
That drop-off has come in part as the nation stopped growing its giant strategic stockpile, which has ballooned in recent years.
—Devika Krishna Kumar, Fortune, 6 June 2026
The city of Boise paused a water recycling project after its price tag ballooned from $56 million to $750 million.
—Idaho Statesman, 4 June 2026
The cost ballooned from the initial estimates of $350 million.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
Those situations — runners in scoring position — ballooned the Royals’ team totals in 2024.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026
Anthropic has experienced explosive growth this year, announcing in May that its revenue run rate had ballooned to $47 billion, up from $10 billion in revenue in 2025.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 2 June 2026
That wouldn’t change if the CFP ballooned to 48 teams.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 1 June 2026
These enclaves emerged as cruise ships ballooned in size and can provide a more private, serene experience away from the ever-growing roster of restaurants, theaters, water parks, and entertainment venues.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
Crawley claims Augment’s assets—almost entirely pre-IPO shares in private tech companies—have ballooned from under $200 million to more than $1 billion over the last 12 months, driven largely by Anthropic’s skyrocketing value.
—Phoebe Liu, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Adjective
-
Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will not develop symptoms, but those who do may experience a mild form of the illness, which can include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands or a rash, according to the IDOH.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
-
Unlike their other two children, who'd previously had the same surgery, Asher became unusually swollen after the procedure and experienced more bleeding than expected.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Verb
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There will also be increased MARTA staffing to help manage large crowds on the train platforms, and expansion of the MARTA Hope program which helps riders experiencing mental health crises, substance abuse or homelessness.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
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As Korean stocks have surged, their weightings in global and emerging-market benchmarks have increased sharply, forcing many active fund managers to trim positions to stay within portfolio and risk limits, investors told CNBC.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
8 June 2026
Verb
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In his right leg, Adin's tibia bone was broken in half and protruded through the skin.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
7 June 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
27 May 2026
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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
Verb
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American ingenuity soon swelled the millionaire class to include titans of tobacco, steel, banking, even refrigerated railcars.—
Chase Peterson-Withorn,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
My calves and thighs often throbbed, my waist ached and my knees swelled.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Her long-term partner, Rich Paul, recently poked fun at his lady love's musical prowess while being interviewed on the Glass Half Full with Craig Melvin podcast.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
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The 14-day relative strength index has also just poked above the 50 level for the first time since late February.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Cover pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer, checking occasionally to make sure water isn’t boiling too rapidly, until matzo balls are very puffed and light in color, 30–40 minutes.—
Molly Baz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Bake, 1 baking sheet at a time, in preheated oven until slightly puffed and golden brown, about 12 minutes.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Not only that, but USC rose to that level in a still-unfinished stadium, without anything resembling the NIL firepower that other college baseball teams, particularly in the SEC and ACC, are wielding.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
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In total, Fort Worth ISD’s number of graduates who met CCMR criteria rose from 3,772 during the 2022-23 school year to just over 4,000 for the 2023-24 school year.—
Samuel O’Neal
June 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ballooned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooned. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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