1
as in increases
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 protrudes
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
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Recent Examples of balloons
Cut with a curved outer seam that balloons slightly through the thigh before tapering at the ankle, the shape is all about creating volume.
—
Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
The mid-rise jeans have an exaggerated barrel silhouette that balloons out at the knee and tapers into a wide-leg fit at the ankle.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
The specter of inflation will only reappear if the Fed balloons the money supply.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
The mid-rise jeans have an exaggerated barrel silhouette that balloons out at the knee and tapers into a wide-leg fit at the ankle.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
The specter of inflation will only reappear if the Fed balloons the money supply.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balloons
Verb
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That’s because the physical exertion of shoveling increases heart rate and blood pressure, while at the same time the cold constricts blood vessels–a double whammy of stressors.—
Amy Feldman,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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Researchers in Hong Kong have developed a low-cost hydrogel coating that cools solar panel hot spots and increases the power output, thus improving their overall performance and reliability.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Baleen is a specialized type of bone that protrudes from the jaws like teeth and is used to filter small critters from the ocean water to feed.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, if one spouse is 65 or older, that income threshold rises to $33,100.—
Hali Smith,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Jan. 2026
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Picture sipping coffee as the sun rises over the Rockies, or gliding past red rock canyons en route to Glacier National Park, all from the comfort of a panoramic observation car.—
Paris Wilson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Moon also pokes lucky Jupiter in your very own sign, which pushes you to show up boldly without overextending yourself.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
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Is every head that pokes in to look at me actually Frank himself?—
Shane Kowalski,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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While the number of retirees swells, the pool of workers funding the social safety net — and caring for the aging population — is narrowing.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
7 Jan. 2026
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There's a sort of a natural world religiousness or spirituality or philosophy that swells around a lot of things and different characters.—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a brain aneurysm is a weakened area in an artery that bulges outward and fills with blood.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The current phase expands participation to additional countries and concentrates on issues such as prevention of major equipment failures, safety classification of systems, and scenarios involving loss of external power supplies.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Jan. 2026
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With only nine members, the Pac-12 will play a 16-game conference schedule, leaving up to 16 in the nonconference when the NCAA expands to a maximum of 32 next year.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But last night, the sisters diverged in their fashion sense—namely, their choice of It bags.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
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There’s also a spacious closet off the bathroom, which one imagines the future West Village girl who gets the place will need for all of her Reformation and Brandy Melville bags.—
Katie McDonough,
Curbed,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balloons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balloons. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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