as in exaggerated
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds
he's been walking around with an inflated ego every since he got the promotion
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in increased
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
Dissimilar Words
2
as in accelerated
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
Airbags are designed to inflate automatically on impact.
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of inflated
Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
And wages aren’t increasing fast enough to keep pace with inflated housing costs.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
From April 2016 until about April 2025, James and co-conspirators falsely inflated information technology contracts for Air Force installations across the Pacific.
—Tolu Talabi, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflated
Adjective
Criticisms of the Miami signature bridge project To critics who have complained from the start that the project was a waste of taxpayer money better spent on expanding public transit, the inflated costs and delays are all too predictable.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
And wages aren’t increasing fast enough to keep pace with inflated housing costs.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
However, attorneys say that number is inflated because many of the pending cases have been abandoned by the applicants, but were not formally withdrawn.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
From April 2016 until about April 2025, James and co-conspirators falsely inflated information technology contracts for Air Force installations across the Pacific.
—Tolu Talabi, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflated
Adjective
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Lizzy reflects on how their upbringing normalized bold, exaggerated aesthetics—from their mother's stage glamour to their father's own experimental looks.—
Brittany Talarico,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Laptop twee tries to pretend those simpler times are accessible, which makes for exaggerated, juvenile glee—a dishonest document of 2026, but a wildly appealing one.—
Samuel Hyland,
Pitchfork,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On the other hand, planting the wrong neighbors next to garlic can lead to altered flavors, stunted growth, increased susceptibility to pests, and decreased production.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Apr. 2026
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But having one of the game’s fastest players start at second base in the bottom of the 10th gave the Cubs an advantage, which increased after Caleb Thielbar pitched a scoreless top of the 10th.—
Andy Martinez,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The rise of white-collar work made a college degree the expected path, and offshoring and free trade agreements through the turn of the century only accelerated that shift, leaving trade roles increasingly scarce.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
14 Apr. 2026
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Demand accelerated after the 2007–08 financial crisis, as money managers sought more sophisticated risk analysis tools.—
byDebbie Carlson,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most eateries have expanded outdoor seating.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
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The candy’s original logo had three balloons to represent Airheads' first three flavors — cherry, watermelon and strawberry — but as the company expanded the varieties, it was changed to a balloon mascot, known as Oscar.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But what started as a $256 million price tag to purchase and renovate a Flagler Street building that was built for Florida Power and Light in the 1970s has ballooned into a nearly $438 million undertaking, according to internal documents.—
Douglas Hanks
April 8,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
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Instead, the number attached to the deficit has ballooned.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 2024, the value of Asymmetric’s liquid book swelled from roughly $195 million to $395 million, a person familiar with the firm’s finances told Fortune.—
Jack Kubinec,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
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The Cybertruck’s angular design was divisive, and the attention-grabbing vehicle occasionally became the target of ridicule and vandalism when a backlash against Musk swelled last year.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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My stomach wasn't distended anymore.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Aromatic garlic deters many rose pests, including aphids, spider mites, Japanese beetles, and deer.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The away fans rose to salute their team with warm applause and chants of support.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflated. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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