as in dilating
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as in soaring
Related Words
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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballooning
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Parts of South Asia are experiencing chronic declines in water due to groundwater-dependent farming and ballooning urban populations.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
Steve Kopack, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
The Bank for International Settlements, an institution owned by central banks, has similarly raised the alarm over risks posed by ballooning public debt.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballooning
Noun
There’s no way to develop this group over the next four years without contracts ballooning unsustainably; and that same group lacks any of the star power necessary to lift the Bulls out of their current mediocrity.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Parts of South Asia are experiencing chronic declines in water due to groundwater-dependent farming and ballooning urban populations.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
Oracle has been a darling of the artificial intelligence boom, ballooning Larry Ellison's fortune to more than $230 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
The Bank for International Settlements, an institution owned by central banks, has similarly raised the alarm over risks posed by ballooning public debt.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ballooning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooning
Noun
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Plenty of places around Arizona are popular among spectators eager to see the Falcon 9 soaring overheard.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
30 Nov. 2025
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Taylor Swift's date night necklace sent this small business soaring.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Fresh concrete is visible at both the western and eastern entrances, increasing protection that could help shield the facility from potential airstrikes, alongside trucks and other construction equipment at the site.—
Farida Elsebai,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Coupled with large reductions to downtown trophy buildings and ever-increasing tax levies from local governments, bills that landed late last year enraged many homeowners.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Around the side, the former casino facade is now the front of Joe Leaphorn’s workplace, the Kayenta tribal police station, complete with protruding wood beams.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
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Team Fluff's Twilight Barkle, a special needs dog with a protruding forehead from Hearts & Bones Rescue in Dallas, scored the game's final touchdown.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Symptoms can include abdominal pain or discomfort, blurred or double vision, dilated pupils, dizziness, drooping eyelid, dry or sore throat, facial muscle paralysis, nausea or vomiting, swollen belly, and trouble swallowing and speaking.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
20 Jan. 2026
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Greenwood was previously diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, but said that might not be a factor in what caused her heart attack last year, per the BBC.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Perfect for children’s bedrooms and play spaces, these favorably reviewed linen-blend curtains feature grommets for effortless gliding and breezy stripes in 27 colors that are equally kid- and grownup-friendly.—
Shoko Wanger,
Architectural Digest,
6 Oct. 2025
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The team showed that this gliding persists down to –15 degree Celsius, setting a new benchmark for cellular motility in complex, nucleus-bearing organisms.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For example, rising temperatures have direct harms on health by increasing risk of dehydration and causing more stress on the heart.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
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Now firmly established as both a premier service destination and a rising industry hub, Morocco is looking outward, fielding major delegations at platforms such as Venice Production Bridge and this year’s EFM to connect a new generation of filmmakers directly to the global market.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Telltale Signs of Rotary Motion The re-examination revealed unmistakable evidence that this was no simple awl meant for poking holes.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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Garlic is a kitchen staple for many, but spotting a green sprout poking out of a clove can raise questions about food safety.—
Caitlin Beale,
Health,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Whereas Vaslav’s unorthodox looks infatuated many people, hers (protuberant teeth and lips, stocky body, flat chest, powerful thighs) alienated many.—
Alastair Macaulay,
The New York Review of Books,
29 Dec. 2022
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And the rear of the case is deeper to accommodate a protuberant rear camera—hinting that the next iPad will see a big camera upgrade.—
David Phelan,
Forbes,
9 Oct. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Ballooning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooning. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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