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

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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
Noun
And, with a crisis of ballooning budgets in the film industry, this change couldn’t come at a better time. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 26 June 2026 Andy Burnham, the charismatic former mayor of Greater Manchester, once rebuffed the idea that government decisions should be swayed by investors in its ballooning pile of debt. — Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
Verb
The two candidates also are offering differing solutions for the country's struggling health system, ballooning public debt and entrenched corruption. — CBS News, 21 June 2026 Brynn Votano and Carmichael added to Westford’s run, ballooning their lead to two goals. — Jason Cooke, Boston Herald, 8 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
  • Mutations in genes encoding cardiac myosin, for instance, can lead to cardiomyopathies, including hypertrophic and dilated forms, which affect the ability of the heart to pump blood effectively.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Definition of dilated
Noun
  • Dozens of daily records are being set as the combination of heat and humidity sends the heat index soaring.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • The shipping gridlock sent the price of oil soaring, impacting virtually everyone on the planet, including Americans who continue to face elevated prices at the pump.
    — Joanne Stocker, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of soaring
Verb
  • After months of decline, gas prices across the country are steadily increasing after the fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States broke down last week.
    — Mirtha Donastorg, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
  • Medicare regulators on Tuesday proposed to ban vendors from providing remote patient monitoring services on behalf of doctors, a major policy change for a rapidly growing care model that’s been the subject of increasing scrutiny.
    — Mario Aguilar, STAT, 15 July 2026
Definition of increasing
Verb
  • Next, plug the separate, short USB-C cable protruding from the back support bar into the port on the seat's base.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026
  • The small black object protruding underneath the door kept showing up and the woman told her mother about her suspicions.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
Definition of protruding
Adjective
  • 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
  • His eyesight was failing and his eyes were bloodshot and protuberant.
    — Hermione Lee, The New York Review of Books, 21 Sep. 2022
Definition of protuberant
Noun
  • 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
  • As the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic Coast, the state park is a hotspot for hang gliding, kite flying, and sunset watching.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 9 May 2026
Definition of gliding
Verb
  • But the number started rising about a decade ago, with a particularly notable spike in 2018 and 2019.
    — Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
  • But interest in the nascent field is rising as companies notch up milestones, such as enabling people with degenerative conditions including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to type or play video games using brain signals.
    — Elaine Yu, CNBC, 11 July 2026
Definition of rising
Verb
  • Ant hills aren’t just ugly mounds poking through your beautiful green yard.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026
  • The math moves without touching the money supply and poking inflation expectations.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of poking

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Cite this Entry

“Ballooning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooning. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ballooning

Nglish: Translation of ballooning for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ballooning

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