ballooning 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of ballooningnext
as in dilating

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Dissimilar Words

ballooning

2 of 3

noun

as in soaring

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ballooning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of balloon
1
as in increasing
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number the number of students who stay home sick balloons every winter

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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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ballooning
Adjective
Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images The House of Representatives adjourned Wednesday, leaving Washington and almost certainly punting action on a ballooning artificial intelligence crisis until after November's midterm election. — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
Noun
Their goal was to map where these compact systems can actually turn a profit without being crushed by ballooning construction costs. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026 But the poori remains the same, made with whole wheat flour, water and a touch of salt, gently pressed and then fried, ballooning into a gorgeous orb. — Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
Golden State continued its momentum into the third quarter, ballooning its lead to as large as 26. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 25 June 2026 The Carys set out from the camp at the west end, near Curtain Falls, to explore the lake, which comprises a main channel plus a number of large bays ballooning out on each side, several of them named after the days of the week. — Hank Bradshaw, Outdoor Life, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ballooning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooning
  1. dilated
  2. soaring
  3. increasing
  4. protruding
  5. protuberant
  6. gliding
  7. rising
  8. poking
Adjective
  • There she was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a progressive heart muscle disease.
    — Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • CT scans showed a full stomach, suggesting the boy had feasted before the sacrificial ceremony, as well as a dilated esophagus consistent with vomiting.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of dilated
Noun
  • Several of the staples of break fast meals — bagels, cream cheese and lox — are carbohydrate-heavy and can send blood sugar soaring if eaten too quickly.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Con investor event, CrowdStrike laid out some bullish long-term targets that sent the stock soaring.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of soaring
Verb
  • The hope is that these discoveries will not be lost with increasing use of AI models in mathematics.
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The rules are aimed at boosting confidence in Saudi ⁠capital markets by increasing transparency and strengthening the IPO framework, the CMA said.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of increasing
Verb
  • As has the part where Reacher uses his left paw with two nails protruding from the palm as a makeshift Wolverine/Freddy Krueger stabbin’ hand.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
  • For the hunters, a massive grey orb with a ramp protruding from it is one clue.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of protruding
Adjective
  • Lu, who has protuberant light brown eyes, small black ears and a floppy tongue, loves to snuggle with her four-legged foster siblings and stretch out in the sun, according to the contest website.
    — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of protuberant
Noun
  • Visitors especially enjoy paragliding and hang-gliding in the area, as well as canoeing and hiking all around the Valley.
    — Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 28 July 2026
  • And in 2022, Ristroph studied the surpassingly complex aerodynamics of what makes a good paper airplane—specifically what is needed for smooth gliding.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026
Definition of gliding
Verb
  • Europe’s ability to meet rising electricity demand, including the power needed to operate AI data centers, Andersen notes, depends on solving its energy dependency problem.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Brands are making more on paper and keeping less in the bank, squeezed from every side by rising ad costs, tariffs and overhead.
    — David Born, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of rising
Verb
  • Sometimes only the tips of the reeds and the seed heads were visible, poking above the murky water, and other times the reeds stood fully exposed, with a clear view of crabs clambering around their bases.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Video posted to social media showed one car nearly submerged, with just its sunroof poking above the water, as people moved other vehicles farther from the rising tides.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of poking

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ballooning
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Cite this Entry

“Ballooning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooning. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ballooning

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ballooning

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