as in swollen
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure
bees with abdomens distended with honey are less apt to sting
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in swelled
to make or become larger especially because of pressure from inside
The illness can cause the stomach to distend.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distended
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Following too much pasta or one too many sweet treats, my stomach gets quite sensitive—resulting in a feeling of tightness and a distended, rumbling tummy.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 20 May 2025
Bloating causes your belly to feel full and look distended.
—Kathleen Felton, Health, 9 June 2024
But for all its brawn and atmosphere and robustly choreographed combat, this is a distended historical tapestry too sprawling to remain compelling, particularly when its focus veers away from the central couple.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Once per act, a second duo crashes in on Didi and Gogo, providing the tramps’ power balance with a lurid, distended foil.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Following too much pasta or one too many sweet treats, my stomach gets quite sensitive—resulting in a feeling of tightness and a distended, rumbling tummy.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 20 May 2025
Bloating causes your belly to feel full and look distended.
—Kathleen Felton, Health, 9 June 2024
But for all its brawn and atmosphere and robustly choreographed combat, this is a distended historical tapestry too sprawling to remain compelling, particularly when its focus veers away from the central couple.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
Their belly will appear distended during the last 20 days of pregnancy, and their breast tissue will also be noticeably swollen.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distended
Adjective
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He was followed by an interested female, her behind swollen red.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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However, when Taylor’s doctor dilated his eyes, the optic nerves, which connect the eyes to the brain, were found to be completely swollen.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Waves along the Bay Area coast swelled higher than normal, and king tides continued to push coastal waters higher onto the shore than normal Thursday.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
6 Nov. 2025
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Sherrill will inherit a state budget that swelled under Murphy, who delivered on promises to fund the public worker pension fund and a K-12 school aid formula after years of neglect under previous governors, by high income taxes on the wealthy.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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One Beijing site, which expanded by nearly 50% since 2020, is involved in the production of the vaunted DF-26 medium-range ballistic missile, according to the China Aerospace Studies Institute.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Since then, Butterfly World expanded to include two aviaries for tropical birds and an interactive lorikeet encounter area.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The number of homebuyers taking out VA loans also increased in August, rising 3 percent year-over-year nationwide—bucking the trend observed for conventional loans, which declined 9 percent year-over-year in the same month.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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The area increased to 80% by 2018, according to state media, after numerous buildings and city walls were restored, and 135 temporary structures inside the compound were torn down.—
Fred He,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This will go into a 264-mile (425-km) orbit and the single module will be inflated and the solar array deployed by ground control.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Nov. 2025
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Having properly inflated tires with the right amount of tread can save you from hydroplaning, blowouts and even accidents.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The signage was also updated to better call out the categories in the store, fitting rooms were enlarged and different materials were used to create a more immersive experience, the retailer said.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
31 Oct. 2025
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Trusting her instincts, Arden took Fern to an emergency vet, where an ultrasound revealed that Fern’s heart was enlarged and fluid was building in her chest.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distended. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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