Synonyms of inflate

inflate

verb

1

as in to increase

to make greater in size, amount, or number

Check that you have inflated your tires to the recommended pressure.

Some sellers were inflating their prices by as much as 500 per cent.

Related Words

• increase
• raise
• expand
• lift
• distend
• dilate
• augment
• accelerate
• aggrandize
• amplify
• aerate
• add (to)
• swell
• enlarge
• multiply
• escalate
• extend
• stoke
• blow up
• boost
• skyrocket
• jump
• lengthen
• prolong
• up
• compound
• heighten
• build up
• elongate
• pump up
• spike
• enhance
• hike
• stretch
• intensify
• boom
• supersize
• reinforce
• jack (up)
• draw out
• hype
• magnify
• protract
• maximize
• develop
• bump (up)
• flesh (out)
• ratchet (up)
• complement
• supplement
• reenforce
• strengthen
• accumulate
• rachet (up)
• amass
• collect
• beef (up)
• parlay
• follow up

Dissimilar Words

• compress
• reduce
• condense
• constrict
• decrease
• diminish
• contract
• lessen
• lower
• downsize
• dwindle
• abate
• curtail
• shorten
• subtract (from)
• abridge
• abbreviate
• minify
• cut back
• retrench
• de-escalate

2

as in to accelerate

to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number

Airbags are designed to inflate automatically on impact.

Related Words

• accelerate
• expand
• rise
• balloon
• swell
• distend
• increase
• jump
• accumulate
• bulk
• mount
• climb
• proliferate
• escalate
• multiply
• puff (up)
• spread
• enlarge
• boom
• roll up
• intensify
• skyrocket
• surge
• blow up
• snowball
• appreciate
• heighten
• mushroom
• bourgeon
• rocket
• wax
• gain
• build up
• burgeon
• peak
• redouble
• crest
• crescendo

Dissimilar Words

• decrease
• diminish
• lessen
• recede
• contract
• shrink
• compress
• dwindle
• condense
• wane
• constrict

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb inflate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of inflate are amplify, dilate, distend, expand, and swell. While all these words mean "to increase in size or volume," inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

an inflated ego

When is amplify a more appropriate choice than inflate?

While in some cases nearly identical to inflate, amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

amplify the statement with details

When is it sensible to use dilate instead of inflate?

The meanings of dilate and inflate largely overlap; however, dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

dilated pupils

Where would distend be a reasonable alternative to inflate?

Although the words distend and inflate have much in common, distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

a distended abdomen

When might expand be a better fit than inflate?

The synonyms expand and inflate are sometimes interchangeable, but expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (such as growth, unfolding, addition of parts).

a business that expands every year

When could swell be used to replace inflate?

The words swell and inflate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of inflate

The lawsuit claims RealPage, controlling over 80% of the rental market, uses data from competing landlords to artificially inflate rental prices. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 10 July 2025

Trump wouldn't be the first president to inflate or embellish economic activity on his watch. —Jarrett Renshaw, USA Today, 8 July 2025

Why Markets Haven’t Priced In Mortgage Defaults Markets are still fixated on tech earnings, inflated AI valuations, and the idea of a soft landing. —Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025

Those teams simply inflated the low-major leagues that compete for a single bid every year. —Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 10 July 2025