as in rolling
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Dissimilar Words
as in protruding
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the curtains in the open windows billowed in the summer wind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of billowing
Abby Dodge, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
In a video shared to Hits Radio's Instagram, Coel, 38, could be seen with her hand inside her Loewe gown and adjusting its top, which is when Hathaway, 43, decided to use the billowing bell sleeves of her Iris van Herpen couture gown as a curtain.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Israeli warplanes have unleashed an intense barrage of strikes on the southern town of Nabatiyeh, sending giant plumes of black smoke billowing over the regional hub of southern Lebanon.
—Yarden Segev, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
On either side, the bodice of Blanchett's gown split into two billowing sleeves that tapered at her wrists.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Louise touched her phone screen to look at the picture of Diana again—gorgeous Diana smiling into the wind, all that thick hair billowing.
—Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Smoke billowing from a rooftop could be seen from long distance.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 1 Apr. 2026
As mourners arrived at Middleton High School, they were greeted by a three-story flag billowing from the outstretched ladder of Middleton Rural Fire Department’s Engine 51.
—Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
Dramatic footage shows flames and thick black smoke billowing from the area around the airport, while firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
—Moriah Thomas, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
As of Monday night and early Tuesday morning, most of the information about the Highway 41 Fire has been preliminary, and video from the scene of the fire showed large flames and thick smoke billowing into the sky.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
In a video shared to Hits Radio's Instagram, Coel, 38, could be seen with her hand inside her Loewe gown and adjusting its top, which is when Hathaway, 43, decided to use the billowing bell sleeves of her Iris van Herpen couture gown as a curtain.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Israeli warplanes have unleashed an intense barrage of strikes on the southern town of Nabatiyeh, sending giant plumes of black smoke billowing over the regional hub of southern Lebanon.
—Yarden Segev, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
On either side, the bodice of Blanchett's gown split into two billowing sleeves that tapered at her wrists.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Louise touched her phone screen to look at the picture of Diana again—gorgeous Diana smiling into the wind, all that thick hair billowing.
—Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Smoke billowing from a rooftop could be seen from long distance.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 1 Apr. 2026
As mourners arrived at Middleton High School, they were greeted by a three-story flag billowing from the outstretched ladder of Middleton Rural Fire Department’s Engine 51.
—Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
Dramatic footage shows flames and thick black smoke billowing from the area around the airport, while firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
—Moriah Thomas, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for billowing
Adjective
-
Instead, scandals have provided rolling revelations of a general unseriousness.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
On Thursday, Putin broke his silence on the rolling digital blackouts, which hit the country’s capital in early March.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The center point is perhaps what looks like a gigantic mountain with two 'spikes' protruding from its peak, like the antennae on an insect.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Her right hand gripped the scissors with the round finger holes embedded in her palm and the pointed end protruding from her fist.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Martha Stewart, however—perhaps the least likely superstar to do so—is poking holes in that fantasy, giving us an iconic new selfie that feels wildly relatable to anyone familiar with the mayhem of getting ready.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
24 Apr. 2026
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Paul, who co-created the Apple TV+ series and drew from season one for the musical’s script and score, performs a dexterous trick, poking fun at the form’s many ridiculous tropes with an unmistakably affectionate hand.—
Naveen Kumar,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Another effective anti-swelling remedy is a delicious snack that may be hiding in the fridge.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Reiner sat mostly expressionless in the courtroom—his eyes wide open and bulging.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Nicholas Galitzine, resplendent with wavy blond hair and bulging muscles, has the power.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
With a jellybean color palette, a new wavy Rhode logo, and shapes like mushrooms and beans, the stickers were aligned with Justin’s Skylrk aesthetic, forming a bridge between the two labels and the Biebers ahead of their biggest weekend in the public eye since their wedding in 2018.—
Lucy Maguire,
Vogue,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair).—
Jennifer Hussein,
Allure,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Billowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/billowing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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