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
Kiana Murden, Vogue, 20 May 2025
Bloating causes your belly to feel full and look distended.
—Kathleen Felton, Health, 9 June 2024
Chemtrails draws you into a different speed, a distended sense of time and sound.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2021
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
Adjective
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
Chemtrails draws you into a different speed, a distended sense of time and sound.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2021
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distended
Adjective
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This can also be caused by a lack of sleep—which also comes with risks of chronic fatigue, thinning hair and swollen lower eyelids.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Trump’s apparently swollen ankles, which were photographed at the FIFA Club World Cup Final in July, have been connected to the condition.—
Ty Roush,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Following the surgery, his body swelled dangerously, and his lungs collapsed, forcing doctors to place him on a ventilator.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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The ranks have swelled to four teams with the addition of the Firefighters and Texas Tailgaters.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tesla's board has urged shareholders to vote against a proposal calling for a political neutrality policy, which would have expanded board oversight of Musk's political activities.—
Akash Sriram,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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In recent years, Chanel has expanded its support for cinema, which now encompasses everything from costume design to film restoration, in addition to initiatives geared at fostering the next generation of movie directors.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For example, Doak kicked on so impressively at Middlesbrough in 2024-25 that his value increased to the point that Bournemouth paid £25m for him.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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The rate of lifetime depression among women has increased by over 40% in the last decade, yet periods like postpartum and perimenopause remain under-addressed in mainstream mental health care.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Audits were skipped, promises were inflated, and the aftermath left not just financial damage, but reputational risk that continues to shadow the entire sector.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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We’d sometimes get threatened, and that only inflated our self-importance.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Traditional prints are being enlarged to create bold, graphic statements and a gallery-like presence.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
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Just a few days later, Fluidstack enlarged the deal, incorporating an additional 160 MW of capacity.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distended. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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