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
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 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
-
Replacing your roof not only improves safety and performance, but also boosts curb appeal and increases your home’s value.—
TIMEPROOF USA Roofing Company,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Taking ownership removes friction and increases follow-through.—
Brian Page,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Try it again on the next block, and this time a suspicious-looking mushroom rises from within and chases you, a symbol for transformation that the designers hoped would be globally recognizable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Caterpillar, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, is still fundamentally a cyclical business that rises and falls with the global economy.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Amazon also strikes a nerve with an ad starring Chris Hemsworth that pokes fun of people’s fears of AI.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Cucurella lands on the rebound and pokes in.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Small craft should exercise caution near inlets due to long period swells, according to NWS Melbourne.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
-
No matter the chapter, no matter the group, in London everything swells together like a great Brazilian monochromatic gumbo.—
Theo Lloyd-Hughes,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
When one soul speaks its truth, the frequency of truth expands through the collective.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
As the temperature drops, the water freezes and expands, causing the pavement to rise.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Grab this classic crossbody in the Kate Spade Outlet for $57, and check out more stylish Kate Spade bags under $100 below.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But last night, the sisters diverged in their fashion sense—namely, their choice of It bags.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balloons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balloons. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
