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
John Seewer, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile security lines have ballooned with officials estimating wait times could reach four hours.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Kneuppel, who appears to be headlining the two-man Rookie of the Year race (Dallas’ Cooper Flagg is the other award hopeful), hit six 3s for 26 points to help the Hornets build a lead that ballooned to as large as 21 in the fourth quarter.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
Cicada still accounts for only a small number of cases in the United States, but has ballooned to represent up to 30% in some European countries.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
The project’s budget also ballooned by $27 million, from $54 million to $81 million.
—Everton Bailey Jr, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
The government shutdown straining Transportation Security Administration staffing has ballooned checkpoint wait times beyond two hours at some major airports.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Taylor Bol Bowen put an exclamation point on the Crimson Tide response with two dunks and a 3-pointer as the lead ballooned to 20.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
The national debt has ballooned to just under $39 trillion, and the government has been running budget deficits for years.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
The government shutdown straining Transportation Security Administration staffing has ballooned checkpoint wait times beyond two hours at some major airports.
—John Seewer, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile security lines have ballooned with officials estimating wait times could reach four hours.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Kneuppel, who appears to be headlining the two-man Rookie of the Year race (Dallas’ Cooper Flagg is the other award hopeful), hit six 3s for 26 points to help the Hornets build a lead that ballooned to as large as 21 in the fourth quarter.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
Cicada still accounts for only a small number of cases in the United States, but has ballooned to represent up to 30% in some European countries.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
The project’s budget also ballooned by $27 million, from $54 million to $81 million.
—Everton Bailey Jr, Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
The government shutdown straining Transportation Security Administration staffing has ballooned checkpoint wait times beyond two hours at some major airports.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Taylor Bol Bowen put an exclamation point on the Crimson Tide response with two dunks and a 3-pointer as the lead ballooned to 20.
—CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
The national debt has ballooned to just under $39 trillion, and the government has been running budget deficits for years.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Verb
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Airport security lines increased, some stretching multiple hours in hubs such as Houston and Atlanta, as TSA officers called out and hundreds across the country quit.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
JetBlue increased the fees as airlines maneuver to cover their rising jet fuel costs, which have soared since the Iran war began.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Or if a finger was so sliced open that the bone protruded.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Big, waxy flowers called lobster claws protruded from thick stalks.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
On the third day, his forehead and eyes were puffy and swollen.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The next morning, doctors noted that his tongue had become swollen, DHS said.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Formed in 1949, the alliance initially included 12 countries, but has swelled to 32 members.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
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But this winter, despite the thin and vanishing snowpack, the Black River swelled.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Thorns forward poked the ball through and Ball kicked her leg into Wilson’s path, taking her down inside the box.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Since then, the president has repeatedly poked at the vulnerability.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Once North Carolina fired Hubert Davis after five seasons, Billy Donovan immediately rose to the top of the list of favorites to become the next head coach of the storied program.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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While consumers worldwide face steep price hikes, Brazilian gasoline prices rose just 5% in March — compared to 30% in the United States.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Apple engineers’ eyes bulged in astonishment.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Angelenos’ eyes bulged at the $1,500-a-head price tag.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 2026.
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