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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballooned
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
New York spending on these adult daycares ballooned in recent years, with the bill to taxpayers nearly quadrupling from 2018 to 2024.
—
Laura Geller,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Anti-immigrant sentiment has ballooned as protest groups without evidence blame migrants for the country’s economic woes.
—
Lauren Morganbesser,
semafor.com,
28 June 2026
The parents of a 7-year-old Michigan boy whose weight ballooned to 255 pounds due to a steady diet of chips, French fries and apple juice are accused of killing their son.
—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
27 June 2026
Amid explosive fire conditions in southern Utah, the Cottonwood fire has ballooned to more than 144 square miles, damaging a ski resort, forcing evacuations and grounding firefighting aircraft in dangerous winds.
—
Ty Oneil,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
The fire ballooned to more than 144 square miles on Saturday.
—
Ty Oneil,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2026
After gold was discovered in 1862, the now-small town ballooned to 7,000 residents, with another 25,000 living in the surrounding hills, according to the Idaho City Historical Society.
—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
25 June 2026
Hoyer's announcement instantly launched a crowded race to replace him in southern Maryland’s deep-blue 5th Congressional District, which has ballooned to include more than 20 Democratic primary candidates.
—
Halle Troadec,
ABC News,
23 June 2026
Verb
However, electrification has quietly ballooned into a juggernaut with a $42 billion backlog, up from just $9 billion at the end of 2022.
—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
New York spending on these adult daycares ballooned in recent years, with the bill to taxpayers nearly quadrupling from 2018 to 2024.
—
Laura Geller,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Anti-immigrant sentiment has ballooned as protest groups without evidence blame migrants for the country’s economic woes.
—
Lauren Morganbesser,
semafor.com,
28 June 2026
The parents of a 7-year-old Michigan boy whose weight ballooned to 255 pounds due to a steady diet of chips, French fries and apple juice are accused of killing their son.
—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
27 June 2026
Amid explosive fire conditions in southern Utah, the Cottonwood fire has ballooned to more than 144 square miles, damaging a ski resort, forcing evacuations and grounding firefighting aircraft in dangerous winds.
—
Ty Oneil,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
The fire ballooned to more than 144 square miles on Saturday.
—
Ty Oneil,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2026
After gold was discovered in 1862, the now-small town ballooned to 7,000 residents, with another 25,000 living in the surrounding hills, according to the Idaho City Historical Society.
—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
25 June 2026
Hoyer's announcement instantly launched a crowded race to replace him in southern Maryland’s deep-blue 5th Congressional District, which has ballooned to include more than 20 Democratic primary candidates.
—
Halle Troadec,
ABC News,
23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Adjective
-
When fluid pools in tissue instead of draining, the results can include facial puffiness, swollen limbs, bloating and a general heavy or fatigued feeling.
-
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.
Verb
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Through 2025, the application backlog increased, leaving it 48% higher than at the end of former President Joe Biden’s term.
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The bank said last week's hawkish Federal Open Market Committee meeting has increased uncertainty over the outlook for short-term interest rates, even as lower oil prices have eased concerns about an economic downturn.
Verb
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The skinny braids wrapped the bottom of the bun, while the thicker braids dressed the top, forming a cylinder shape that protruded from the crown of her head.
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The problem was that many of them protruded from the front of vehicles like miniature medieval weapons.
Adjective
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Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended.
-
The distended episodes were littered with what feels like filler, little of which offered much in the way of narrative value.
Verb
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Her five of fifty-eight party-line rulings swelled this term to thirteen of fifty-six.
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Over the last three years, DpHue has more than doubled its business in Ulta and Amazon, specifically, as the at-home color market has swelled 3 to 5 percent annually.
Verb
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Griffin also poked at the cohosts in the immediate aftermath of Hasselbeck and former View moderator Rosie O'Donnell's legendary on-air fight in 2007, as Griffin was a guest host the following day and brought up the incident numerous times — which annoyed Walters in the moment.
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Late in the third, the Knights seemed to retake the lead after Pavel Dorofeyev poked home a loose puck.
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.
-
Bake, 1 baking sheet at a time, in preheated oven until slightly puffed and golden brown, about 12 minutes.
Verb
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Revenue at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, rose to $77 million from roughly $50 million in 2024, the filing shows.
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But under the new system, average premiums rose — pushing more people to drop coverage.
Cite this Entry
“Ballooned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooned. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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