Synonyms of distended

distended 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈsten-dəd 

as in swollen

enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure

bees with abdomens distended with honey are less apt to sting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• swollen
• blown
• turgid
• puffed
• bloated
• varicose
• tumescent
• overinflated
• expanded
• bulging
• tumid
• dilated
• protuberant
• blown up
• ballooned
• ballooning
• dilating
• ventricose
• turgescent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collapsed
• deflated
• detumescent

distended

2 of 2

verb

past tense of distend

as in swelled

to make or become larger especially because of pressure from inside

The illness can cause the stomach to distend.

Related Words

• swelled
• expanded
• increased
• dilated
• inflated
• enlarged
• augmented
• elongated
• added (to)
• accelerated
• stretched
• amplified
• extended
• multiplied
• developed
• compounded
• intensified
• prolonged
• aggrandized
• lengthened
• escalated
• built up
• hyped
• stoked
• pumped up
• spiked
• blew up
• skyrocketed
• supersized
• jumped
• protracted
• boomed
• upped
• boosted
• strengthened
• enhanced
• drew out
• heightened
• bumped (up)
• reinforced
• magnified
• supplemented
• raised
• fleshed (out)
• complemented
• accumulated
• maximized
• ratcheted (up)
• racheted (up)
• beefed (up)
• collected
• followed up
• amassed
• parlayed

Dissimilar Words

• shortened
• curtailed
• compressed
• constricted
• abbreviated
• abridged
• contracted
• condensed
• reduced
• decreased
• diminished
• cut back
• lowered
• lessened
• dwindled
• downsized
• subtracted (from)
• abated
• retrenched
• minified
• de-escalated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of distended

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

Verb

Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026

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