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.
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2
as in to accelerate
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
Airbags are designed to inflate automatically on impact.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inflate
Insurance companies counter that authorizations are a vital tool to prevent unnecessary tests and medical care that inflates medical bills for families.
—
Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 24 June 2025
By tearing down the regulatory barriers that inflate prices, Trump can deliver the economic relief families need, no matter what’s happening with his trade talks.
—Andrew Langer, Boston Herald, 21 June 2025
An institution need only inflate grades or print diplomas.
—Michael B. Horn, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
El Cajon officials argued that the newest number was inflated, in part due to the inclusion of streets and sidewalks past municipal boundaries.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflate
Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 24 June 2025
By tearing down the regulatory barriers that inflate prices, Trump can deliver the economic relief families need, no matter what’s happening with his trade talks.
—Andrew Langer, Boston Herald, 21 June 2025
An institution need only inflate grades or print diplomas.
—Michael B. Horn, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
El Cajon officials argued that the newest number was inflated, in part due to the inclusion of streets and sidewalks past municipal boundaries.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for inflate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflate
Verb
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In the long term, budget experts warn that an aging population and rising health care costs mean entitlement spending will gobble an increasing percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).—
Kristina Karisch,
The Hill,
19 June 2025
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The decision to decrease the tax rate comes after a recent revaluation that increased single-family home values in the county by about 58%.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
19 June 2025
Verb
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India’s space ambitions have accelerated under Modi, who was elected to a third term last June and has tried to assert India’s place on the global stage.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
26 June 2025
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This can accelerate aging and increase the risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.—
Essence,
Essence,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Although questions had been raised about whether the boat was properly secured — such as the hatches being left open to water — the new report found that weather was the primary risk, and that a burst of intense winds is believed to have tipped over the luxury yacht within a matter of seconds.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
22 June 2025
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Eight steel lifting straps were used to put the hull upright and to form part of a steel wire lifting system that began raising the vessel out of the water Saturday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 June 2025
Verb
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However, as has been the case with other annual shopping events, retailers expanded the promotional period to start May 13, a week earlier than in 2024, before ending June 18.—
Bernice Ooi,
CNBC,
20 June 2025
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Last year, his position expanded to include chief franchise officer.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
20 June 2025
Verb
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That, however, may be a blessing in disguise that allows Fatu to rise up the ranks on SmackDown even quicker than expected.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 June 2025
Verb
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As pension debt ballooned along with the proportion of the city’s budget (slowly) dedicated to funding pension systems and as property taxes rose, observers began taking more notice.—
Jennifer Hochschild,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
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The drop highlights the enormous progress made by Citizens in scaling back its presence in the Florida property insurance market after its size ballooned over the past few years due to several private insurers going bust, leaving the state or reducing coverage in high-risk regions.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
Verb
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LoPresti said southern flannel moths sting through venomous hairs that can cause burning, numbness, swelling, and in severe cases, nausea or full-limb inflammation.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2025
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As of Wednesday, the number had swelled to 1,218, according to the ACLU of Southern California.—
Jenny Jarvie,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
Verb
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The effect is to both collapse and distend time until all the souls in the book, most of them nameless anyway, exist at the same time, in the same place, forever.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2025
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Isaiah was also malnourished and dehydrated at the time of his death, with his small and large intestines markedly distended.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Inflate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflate. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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