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
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
The towable clamshell unfolds and inflates into a cozy base camp in a matter of minutes.
—New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2025
When American companies are forced to rely on equipment that is slower, smaller and less seaworthy because federal policy artificially inflates ship prices, the resulting delays, losses and failures should come as no surprise.
—Colin Grabow, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Some analysts say this structure, where Nvidia is essentially subsidizing one of its biggest customers, artificially inflates actual demand for AI.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025
The hard part is looking cool when your glove inflates like a giant smurf head.
—Outside Online, 5 Nov. 2025
It’s made with water-resistant polyester, and inflates in less than five minutes, thanks to its powerful fans.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Critics say investor cash inflates prices above what many house hunters can afford, essentially squeezing out first-time buyers.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
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
The towable clamshell unfolds and inflates into a cozy base camp in a matter of minutes.
—New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2025
When American companies are forced to rely on equipment that is slower, smaller and less seaworthy because federal policy artificially inflates ship prices, the resulting delays, losses and failures should come as no surprise.
—Colin Grabow, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Some analysts say this structure, where Nvidia is essentially subsidizing one of its biggest customers, artificially inflates actual demand for AI.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 23 Nov. 2025
The hard part is looking cool when your glove inflates like a giant smurf head.
—Outside Online, 5 Nov. 2025
It’s made with water-resistant polyester, and inflates in less than five minutes, thanks to its powerful fans.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Critics say investor cash inflates prices above what many house hunters can afford, essentially squeezing out first-time buyers.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflates
Verb
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PlayStation consoles rely on a type of dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, chips, which are in short supply as demand from artificial intelligence and data center operators increases.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
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However, stacking many layers increases the electrical contact resistance at their interfaces, which leads to energy losses and limits overall efficiency, as per the release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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By streamlining the training pipeline, Dobot’s approach accelerates data acquisition, facilitates faster model development, and reduces the time from training to deployment, thereby lowering both time and operational costs.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
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The eclipse in your sign accelerates your reinvention process, but impatience can trigger unnecessary conflict.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The viewing party raises funds to support the foundation’s mission to end new HIV transmissions and dismantle the stigma that continues to fuel the epidemic.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
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And consuming more beverages containing artificial sweeteners raises the risk of death from any cause and Alzheimer’s disease, based on moderately good evidence.—
Michael I Goran,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, Kaiser Permanente workers are demanding protections against AI as the health system expands use of the technology.—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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The bill expands those protections.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As anxiety rises, so does our need for self-care.—
Stefanie Groner,
Glamour,
4 Feb. 2026
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When the temperature rises to more than single digits, the Earth might burn up!—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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No matter the chapter, no matter the group, in London everything swells together like a great Brazilian monochromatic gumbo.—
Theo Lloyd-Hughes,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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There will be large waves and swells along the entire stretch from New England to the Carolinas.—
Terry Eliasen,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflates. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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