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
Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2026
Rent to pay Wongchingchai started to worry about the longevity of Thai Soon in 2025, when inflated ingredient prices, depressed sales, looming tax fees and lingering COVID-19 woes pushed her to borrow money from her uncle, her mom and her friends.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Riley Jones, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
Some fuel-efficient driving tips include accelerating slowly, keeping your speed relatively steady and making sure your tires are properly inflated.
—Ryley Amond, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflated
Adjective
Aurélien is one of those rare maisons, a sophisticated fashion house that does not rely on spectacle or inflated positioning yet feels immediately relevant.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2026
Rent to pay Wongchingchai started to worry about the longevity of Thai Soon in 2025, when inflated ingredient prices, depressed sales, looming tax fees and lingering COVID-19 woes pushed her to borrow money from her uncle, her mom and her friends.
—Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Ahead of its official launch, the Tokyo Air Jordan 11 Retro is commanding premium aftermarket prices, although some of the asking prices may not be as inflated as expected.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
Some fuel-efficient driving tips include accelerating slowly, keeping your speed relatively steady and making sure your tires are properly inflated.
—Ryley Amond, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflated
Adjective
-
Our setting is 1936 Chicago, but this is an exaggerated, fictional world, not ours or even Karloff’s.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
These findings add to a Claims Conference survey in January, which said that 9% of Irish adults believed the Holocaust was a myth, while another 17% believed the number of Jews killed had been greatly exaggerated.—
Shira Li Bartov,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Career Connections program allowing students to learn career skills and earn credentials, Skipper highlighted, started off with around 1,000 students four years ago and has now increased to over 4,000 students.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Before that, the rate had increased 56% over two years.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There were a handful of reasons, each accelerated by Micron, but not totally dependent on it, Starr said.—
Mark Dee
March 3,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
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But the problem has accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic and its disruption of the labor market.—
Emily Naiser,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last year, lawmakers boosted the annual amount allocated to the state’s film and TV tax credit program and expanded the criteria for eligible projects in an attempt to lure production back to California.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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While China’s economy expanded by 5% last year, the country has entered a fourth year of deflation amid real estate slump, weak consumer confidence and local government debt stress.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Govan watched as the budget ballooned, and what was initially supposed to be a $650 million building became a $720 million albatross.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
6 Mar. 2026
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Between the end of 2019 and end of 2023, the company’s head count ballooned from 4,000 to almost 13,000 employees, per the WSJ, a major pandemic-era hiring spree.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But during pregnancy, her body had swelled as a result of fluid retention, putting major pressure on the nerves in her hands and wrists.—
Erin MeanLey,
Parents,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Then two years ago, Demings and other county leaders opted against a reboot of the campaign, though transit problems have worsened in Central Florida as its population swelled.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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My stomach wasn't distended anymore.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
19 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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The market share of zero-emission vehicles among all light-duty vehicles sold rose from 12% in 2021 to 19% in 2022.—
Blanca Begert,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Saudi Aramco’s shares rose the most in more than two years as investors bet that the rise in oil prices could offset declines in exports, Bloomberg reported.—
Amena Bakr,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflated. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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