as in stretched
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as in exaggerated
to add to the interest of by including made-up details
the journalist was fired for padding certain stories to make them more interesting
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Recent Examples of padded
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Beyond that, the wide crossover straps won’t dig into your feet, and the heels have a padded Ortholite insole that adds extra comfort.
—Natalie Labarbera, InStyle, 1 June 2026
Right above the 100 section is a premium area, which has larger padded seats.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
Or, for even easier cleanup, use a sleeping bag and a padded mat.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026
In the seventh inning, his fifth inning as a major-league left fielder, Kim sprinted to the railing in foul territory and made a reaching catch up against the padded barrier.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 28 May 2026
The spacious interior boasts great legroom and excellently padded leather seats, while Toyota brings their usual safety features.
—Marc D. Grasso, Boston Herald, 28 May 2026
The Tierney bed puts top-grain leather in the spotlight, with a padded headboard that takes inspiration from leather sling chairs.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
Wide armrests and a padded headrest add a layer of comfort, while two side pockets create storage for beverages, sunscreen, and tech out of the sand.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 27 May 2026
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 1 June 2026
The singer’s hips were padded, her hands were gloved and her face artfully shaded by a giant hat designed by Stephen Jones millinery that was lined with golf leaf.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 1 June 2026
Hayden Senger padded the lead with his first career homer in the seventh, and Juan Soto delivered an RBI single later in the inning as the Mets finished with 10 hits.
—Miami Herald, 31 May 2026
The midsoles are padded for extra arch support to keep you fresh on your feet all day long, and the outsoles are made from slip-resistant rubber for exceptional grip on slick cobblestone streets and airport tile.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
Facing elimination, Megan Grant padded her record-setting home run total during a nine-run second inning and UCLA routed Arkansas, 11-0, in five innings on Friday night at the Women’s College World Series.
—Daily News, 30 May 2026
The Yankees padded their lead in the seventh inning when Paul Goldschmidt worked a walk with the bases loaded.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
Russia’s regional governors are under severe pressure by Moscow to ensure the army’s ranks are padded to continue the war in the midst of high casualties.
—Daniel Depetris, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
Barnes kicked off the scoring with an RBI double and sacrifice flies from Nawrocki and Dylan Duran padded the lead.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2026
Adjective
As well as the bold floral or striped padded headboards there are fabric wallpapers and colorful kimonos framed behind glass panes.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Beyond that, the wide crossover straps won’t dig into your feet, and the heels have a padded Ortholite insole that adds extra comfort.
—Natalie Labarbera, InStyle, 1 June 2026
Right above the 100 section is a premium area, which has larger padded seats.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
Or, for even easier cleanup, use a sleeping bag and a padded mat.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026
In the seventh inning, his fifth inning as a major-league left fielder, Kim sprinted to the railing in foul territory and made a reaching catch up against the padded barrier.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 28 May 2026
The spacious interior boasts great legroom and excellently padded leather seats, while Toyota brings their usual safety features.
—Marc D. Grasso, Boston Herald, 28 May 2026
The Tierney bed puts top-grain leather in the spotlight, with a padded headboard that takes inspiration from leather sling chairs.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 28 May 2026
Wide armrests and a padded headrest add a layer of comfort, while two side pockets create storage for beverages, sunscreen, and tech out of the sand.
—Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 27 May 2026
Verb
The open-toe style had a rounded black footbed, padded upper and a thick rubber sole with deep grooves along the bottom edge.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 1 June 2026
The singer’s hips were padded, her hands were gloved and her face artfully shaded by a giant hat designed by Stephen Jones millinery that was lined with golf leaf.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 1 June 2026
Hayden Senger padded the lead with his first career homer in the seventh, and Juan Soto delivered an RBI single later in the inning as the Mets finished with 10 hits.
—Miami Herald, 31 May 2026
The midsoles are padded for extra arch support to keep you fresh on your feet all day long, and the outsoles are made from slip-resistant rubber for exceptional grip on slick cobblestone streets and airport tile.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
Facing elimination, Megan Grant padded her record-setting home run total during a nine-run second inning and UCLA routed Arkansas, 11-0, in five innings on Friday night at the Women’s College World Series.
—Daily News, 30 May 2026
The Yankees padded their lead in the seventh inning when Paul Goldschmidt worked a walk with the bases loaded.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026
Russia’s regional governors are under severe pressure by Moscow to ensure the army’s ranks are padded to continue the war in the midst of high casualties.
—Daniel Depetris, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
Barnes kicked off the scoring with an RBI double and sacrifice flies from Nawrocki and Dylan Duran padded the lead.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for padded
Adjective
-
Wiley often wears her hair in a stretched state, combing through her gray coils with a blow dryer before doing a braid-out.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
29 May 2026
-
Once activated, the Fe-SMA bars aim to shrink back to their pre-stretched shape.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
City officials say telecom companies have exaggerated the impact of that city law.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Goldman Sachs’ David Mericle suggests this reading has perhaps been exaggerated.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Timmerman replaced Burnham and walked Jolyna Lamar and Rylee Slimp before Grant crushed a 260-foot no-doubter that hit a metal fence beyond the wall in left-center field.—
Tim Willert,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Saylor Timmerman replaced Burnham and walked Jolyna Lamar and Rylee Slimp before Grant blasted a 260-foot homer that hit a metal fence beyond the wall in left-center field.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
Goods include embroidered clothing, handmade textiles, local foods, homemade wine, herbal medicines and farm animals.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
-
Palmer wore a sparkly pink gown; Riley, a jumpsuit speckled with tiny embroidered daisies.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Now iconic green, the statue was copper-colored for around 30 years until the metal had oxidized.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
-
Fruit that is misshapen and deeply creviced is safe to eat if the flesh is firm, appropriately colored, and fresh—simply cut away the scarred tissue.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
But the injury bug came back to rear its ugly head as Brunson yet again appeared to be in discomfort after Spurs center Luke Kornet stepped on his ankle.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
-
New items, which won’t be new to anyone who has stepped foot inside one of California’s many taquerias, include new meats like chicken and chorizo, flour tortillas in addition to corn ones and, of course, burritos.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Digestive problems, such as an enlarged esophagus or colon.—
Eva Flowe
May 29,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
Your gastroenterologist finds a large hiatal hernia, an enlarged opening of the diaphragm trapping part of your stomach.—
Danielle Friedman,
The Conversation,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
What Doremus has done though, is to make his own thing with a similar concept, a film greatly enhanced by the lilting presence of Clarke, who is wonderful in this role(s), showing us the glory of fate, and its price.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
5 June 2026
-
The tank has been enhanced as part of a beautification of the island.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Padded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/padded. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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