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
Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026
The distended episodes were littered with what feels like filler, little of which offered much in the way of narrative value.
—Emma Flint, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
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
New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
His abdomen became distended, and his behavior changed — enough to concern caregivers.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026
His abdomen became very hard and distended.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
According to a July 2025 update, Elliot’s abdomen was very hard and distended.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Boxing scenes in movies, other than in a handful of classics, tend to start to look all the same, a mishmash of beads of sweat and blood and jowels distended, all fists flying and battering as two men catapult and careen across the ring.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
My stomach wasn't distended anymore.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
The fragile skeleton of her ego threatened to snap under the pressure of the animal forces that pressed down on her consciousness, her narrative mind sagging and distended beneath pitiless and grandiose feeling.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
In the last 20 days, their belly will appear distended, and their nipples and breast tissue will be noticeably swollen.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended.
—Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026
The distended episodes were littered with what feels like filler, little of which offered much in the way of narrative value.
—Emma Flint, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
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
In his songs, the English language turned woolier and more expressionistic; musical space-time distended and stretched.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
His abdomen became distended, and his behavior changed — enough to concern caregivers.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026
His abdomen became very hard and distended.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
According to a July 2025 update, Elliot’s abdomen was very hard and distended.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
Boxing scenes in movies, other than in a handful of classics, tend to start to look all the same, a mishmash of beads of sweat and blood and jowels distended, all fists flying and battering as two men catapult and careen across the ring.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
My stomach wasn't distended anymore.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
The fragile skeleton of her ego threatened to snap under the pressure of the animal forces that pressed down on her consciousness, her narrative mind sagging and distended beneath pitiless and grandiose feeling.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
In the last 20 days, their belly will appear distended, and their nipples and breast tissue will be noticeably swollen.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distended
Adjective
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Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will not develop symptoms, but those who do may experience a mild form of the illness, which can include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands or a rash, according to the IDOH.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
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Unlike their other two children, who'd previously had the same surgery, Asher became unusually swollen after the procedure and experienced more bleeding than expected.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Verb
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Lucas Mukasa / Anadolu via Getty Images Angry protests swelled Monday, including in the central town of Nanyuki, which is set to host the quarantine center.—
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
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As crowds outside the venue swelled, officials brought in an additional 200 law enforcement officers during the early afternoon.—
Sofia Baltodano,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
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On Tuesday, Anthropic expanded the effort to include 150 organizations in more than 15 countries.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
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The word also figured heavily in the Alien and Sedition Acts, a set of four 18th century laws that restricted citizenship, expanded the president’s authority to detain and deport foreigners, and criminalized dissenting speech.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Ghirri’s oversize Polaroids, which increased the usual scale of his modest images to roughly tabloid size, were mounted on hefty support columns clad in coir, a jute-like material used for doormats, obviously intended to thwart any suggestion of monumentality.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Local leaders in Greeley say demand for power has increased significantly in recent decades.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Prospects for daraxonrasib and speculation about a potential takeout deal have inflated RevMed’s market cap to nearly $33 billion.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
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Many observers believe the numbers may be inflated amid a widespread crackdown on dissent.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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By taking advantage of the opportunity, the magazine’s scope was effectively enlarged to include not just geographical research, but also political and commercial issues that related to the nation’s new international posture.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
1 June 2026
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The telescopic handle is widened for grip, and the wheels are enlarged and made from shock-absorbent material that rolls quietly.—
John Wogan,
Travel + Leisure,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distended. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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