1
as in increasing
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the number of students who stay home sick balloons every winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in protruding
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
as in dilating
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in soaring
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballooning
Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Over a decade ago, California reformed health benefits at the insistence of former Gov. Jerry Brown due to the state’s ballooning unfunded liability for medical costs for retirees.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2025
To further address concerns about ballooning deficits, Republicans propose nearly $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid—used by 70 million Americans—and $290 billion from food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), among other reductions.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Poor projections, the ballooning cost of Democratic policy promises and a reluctance to make long-term sweeping cuts have added to the deficit at a time when the governor regularly touts California’s place as the fourth-largest economy in the world.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballooning
Adjective
While the stock market has rebounded, investors are still cautious about U.S. assets as trade war negotiations and America’s ballooning debt loom large.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Over a decade ago, California reformed health benefits at the insistence of former Gov. Jerry Brown due to the state’s ballooning unfunded liability for medical costs for retirees.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2025
To further address concerns about ballooning deficits, Republicans propose nearly $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid—used by 70 million Americans—and $290 billion from food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), among other reductions.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Poor projections, the ballooning cost of Democratic policy promises and a reluctance to make long-term sweeping cuts have added to the deficit at a time when the governor regularly touts California’s place as the fourth-largest economy in the world.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballooning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooning
Verb
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The team, however, is not increasing season-ticket prices in the upper level, per the spokesperson.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2025
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Crosby’s work rate is increasing in recent games, his puck battle win ratio even better than usual.—
Josh Yohe,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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While tending to their garden this fall, homeowners in upstate New York spotted what appeared to be two giant teeth protruding from the soil, partially concealed by plant fronds.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
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According to the news release, the mastodon jaw was found protruding from the topsoil, which caught the homeowner's attention.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA TODAY,
18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This sent prices in neighboring Bangladesh soaring, and authorities are scrambling to find new sources for the vegetable. Elsewhere, a drought in Spain took its toll on olive oil production.—
Aniruddha Ghosal, Evelyne Musambi, and Joeal Calupitan,
The Christian Science Monitor,
28 Sep. 2023
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The orange leather piece featured a soaring, nearly hip-grazing leg slit that culminated with a gold buckle at the top.—
Chelsey Sanchez,
Harper's BAZAAR,
26 Sep. 2022
Verb
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Why Retailers Are Closing Stores And Going Bankrupt Retail store closures and bankruptcies are rising.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
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Operators will have to pay $900 per ton of emissions, rising to $1,500 per ton in a few years.—
Christopher Helman,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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On Wednesday, March 19, the couple filmed an Instagram Reel poking fun at their recent red carpet interview with Extra at the grand re-opening of Planet Hollywood in NYC on Tuesday, March 11.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
20 Mar. 2025
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Generally, a plant whose roots are poking out will be completely root-bound.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The recipient, a 49-year-old woman with dilated cardiomyopathy, recovered smoothly and showed remarkably low cardiac enzyme levels, which is a key indicator of heart muscle health.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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As for the patient, the 49-year-old woman with dilated cardiomyopathy was discharged from hospital not long after her surgery last August and is doing well.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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His eyesight was failing and his eyes were bloodshot and protuberant.—
Hermione Lee,
The New York Review of Books,
21 Sep. 2022
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Hours and hours of rubbing abrasive pumice across the roughened marble resulted in the lustrous surfaces of the sculpture, including the high sheen of Pan’s taut chest and ribs, muscular right arm, and protuberant belly.—
William A. Wallace,
WSJ,
28 Jan. 2022
Verb
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With re-accelerating inflation on the horizon, another 5%+ inflation over the next four years could easily see gold at $5,000 an ounce.—
Clem Chambers,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
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These changes disrupt the body's delicate anabolic-catabolic balance, with testosterone promoting tissue growth and libido and cortisol accelerating breakdown and stress responses.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ballooning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooning. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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