1
as in increases
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 accelerates
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
Airbags are designed to inflate automatically on impact.
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Recent Examples of inflates
Prosecutors said fraudulent activity artificially inflates streams, reducing the amount paid to musicians and songwriters whose work is listened to by real audiences.
—
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
In order to minimize rider impact with the handlebars or other hard surfaces, the airbag inflates upward during a forward crash.
—New Atlas, 24 Mar. 2026
Students that are assigned a teacher that inflates grades are more likely to score poorly on future tests.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Their croaking involves pushing air over vocal cords into a thin membrane known as a vocal sac that inflates under the chin.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
An avalanche airbag backpack that inflates after the skier pulls the trigger giving the person a chance to stay above or close to the surface during an avalanche.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
This practice artificially inflates prices and prevents everyday Texans from outbidding Wall Street.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Now, rather than invest in more powerful and more expensive technologies, some scientists are using an alternative technique called expansion microscopy, which inflates the subject using the same moisture-absorbing material found in diapers.
—Molly Herring, Quanta Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
The same metric that inflates benefits in some regulatory contexts, understates them in others.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
In order to minimize rider impact with the handlebars or other hard surfaces, the airbag inflates upward during a forward crash.
—New Atlas, 24 Mar. 2026
Students that are assigned a teacher that inflates grades are more likely to score poorly on future tests.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Their croaking involves pushing air over vocal cords into a thin membrane known as a vocal sac that inflates under the chin.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
An avalanche airbag backpack that inflates after the skier pulls the trigger giving the person a chance to stay above or close to the surface during an avalanche.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
This practice artificially inflates prices and prevents everyday Texans from outbidding Wall Street.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Now, rather than invest in more powerful and more expensive technologies, some scientists are using an alternative technique called expansion microscopy, which inflates the subject using the same moisture-absorbing material found in diapers.
—Molly Herring, Quanta Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
The same metric that inflates benefits in some regulatory contexts, understates them in others.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflates
Verb
-
This increases your visibility to potential rescuers.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a letter that a rearview image that doesn’t display properly reduces the driver’s view behind the vehicle, which increases the risk of a crash.—
Michelle Chapman,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Strategic opportunity, legal risk Environmental groups say the risks extend beyond criminal financing to broader ecological destruction if foreign investment accelerates extraction.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
This will be done while continuously aligning skills, roles, and work as change accelerates.—
Nickle LaMoreaux,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Their union, which raises money for scholarship programs, and sick and wounded police officers, has cut ties with their outside fundraising vendor TCI America.—
Juli McDonald,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Unions and district remain apart on salary increases, with teachers seeking 17% raises and Local 99 workers — some of the lowest-paid — also wanting stability.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The move follows an uptick in deadly attacks across parts of the country, even as the US-Nigeria security partnership expands.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The film shows Dane's desire for the reauthorization of the ACT for ALS, a 2021 law which grants funding to scientific research and expands access to investigational ALS treatments for people who are not otherwise eligible for clinical trials.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The 2025 standard deduction rises to $15,750 from $14,600 for single filers, $23,625 from $21,900 for head of household filers, and $31,500 from $29,200 for married filing jointly filers.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In this moment the show all at once connects to its past, present and future — and once again rises to Heaviside heights.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Massachusetts lawmaker is part of a growing chorus of voices in Washington calling for stronger oversight of these betting platforms as interest swells.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2026
-
His longing swells beyond love into obsession.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflates. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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