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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Dissimilar Words
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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But as the Chiefs’ lead swelled in the second half, Washington abandoned the run.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
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Flat or oddly shaped sides mean the arils inside the fruit have swelled with juice, transforming the fruit's form.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Since then, the social media star has expanded her participation in her hobby tenfold.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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However, if these expanded incentives come through, the Stage 32 program could mean that there’s a ready-to-go crew base in Florida for when production does ramp up again.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
31 Oct. 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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The lobes of the Red Spider Nebula are three light-years long each, inflated by gas from the central star shooting outward for thousands of years.—
Monisha Ravisetti,
Space.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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This has inflated the cost of projects and reduced the supply of housing.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
28 Oct. 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 7 Nov. 2025.
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