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
Greg Cote
june 4, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Unlike Benitez, who arrived at Anfield with inflated confidence having won two La Liga titles in three seasons at Valencia, along with the UEFA Cup, Iraola’s track record is one of a developer at each of his previous clubs rather than a deliverer of trophies.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
The pool is an inflatable ring-top design that holds an impressive 3,736 gallons of water and can be inflated in just 15 minutes.
—Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflated
Adjective
Beyond-high ticket prices have drawn protests, along with inflated mass-transportation costs in host cities.
—Greg Cote
june 4, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Unlike Benitez, who arrived at Anfield with inflated confidence having won two La Liga titles in three seasons at Valencia, along with the UEFA Cup, Iraola’s track record is one of a developer at each of his previous clubs rather than a deliverer of trophies.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Verb
But the scramble to fast-track construction has inflated their costs for taxpayers, imperiling his plans and amplifying his political risks as the midterm elections approach.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
The pool is an inflatable ring-top design that holds an impressive 3,736 gallons of water and can be inflated in just 15 minutes.
—Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflated
Adjective
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Among them was a December 2024 lesson about Christmas that featured Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete, a controversial Dutch holiday character known as a helper to Santa Claus who is depicted with exaggerated, racist physical features — including large red lips.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
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But the film received criticism in the aftermath of its release, with some naysayers accusing it of being alarmist or exaggerated.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Rainbow flick The chances of seeing this skill — some might call it a circus act — being performed at the World Cup this summer increased significantly on the back of Neymar being named in the Brazil squad.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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Economic output has also increased, up 24% over the same period, government data show.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Verb
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On a sunny day in late May, a brand-new Mazda CX-5 was accelerated to about 40 mph and driven toward a stationary object with the express purpose of testing whether the vehicle would hit it.—
Keith Laing,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
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China’s economic imbalance worsened in May as retail sales fell at the fastest pace in years, while industrial output accelerated, new data showed.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
16 June 2026
Verb
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The cabin was expanded to include sleep spaces and communal dining areas for ski students—thousands of Icelanders would pass through every summer season.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
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The legacy of rules dates back to 1972, initially shaped by choreographer Texie Waterman and expanded during Suzanne Mitchell's directorship from 1976 to 1989.—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Verb
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The company has ballooned into one of the most valuable private companies on the planet, reaching a valuation of $850 billion earlier this year.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
13 June 2026
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Musk’s own net worth has rapidly ballooned in value.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Verb
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American ingenuity soon swelled the millionaire class to include titans of tobacco, steel, banking, even refrigerated railcars.—
Chase Peterson-Withorn,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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My calves and thighs often throbbed, my waist ached and my knees swelled.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
27 May 2026
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In his songs, the English language turned woolier and more expressionistic; musical space-time distended and stretched.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Two Canada geese and six gangly brown-suède goslings walked among the refuse, while in the near distance the truck horns and the protesters’ chants rose up.—
Ian Frazier,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
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The deal comes after the Consumer Price Index in May rose to its highest level in more than three years, with energy prices accounting for more than 60% of the monthly inflation increase.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflated. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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