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as in exaggeration
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts
that feature writer is sometimes guilty of padding, since his stories often contain colorful details that can't be verified
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in exaggerating
to add to the interest of by including made-up details
the journalist was fired for padding certain stories to make them more interesting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in walking
to go on foot
a cat padded silently by
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of padding
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2025
Even with that extra padding, the fit stayed smooth, with no slipping in boots, even on steeper terrain, and the lighter upper kept her feet moving comfortably without bulk.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025
David Sims, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025
Mahomes is also padding his long list of sponsors, partnering with Airbnb and Hublot and agreeing to autograph Panini trading cards for the first time in five years.
—Brett Knight, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for padding
Noun
Pack Boxes For Moving And Storage Tissue paper makes great padding for shipping packages or storing delicate items.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2025
Even with that extra padding, the fit stayed smooth, with no slipping in boots, even on steeper terrain, and the lighter upper kept her feet moving comfortably without bulk.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025
Verb
This direction—padding the ensemble with social-media-friendly faces—represents more of a nudge toward the future than a massive overhaul.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025
Mahomes is also padding his long list of sponsors, partnering with Airbnb and Hublot and agreeing to autograph Panini trading cards for the first time in five years.
—Brett Knight, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for padding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for padding
Noun
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Public health advocates are also pushing to expand the scope of practice for dental therapists, mid-level providers who can perform fillings and extractions under supervision.—
Sixteen Ramos,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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When an autopsy found lead pellets in his face, the sheriff said these might be dental fillings.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Speaking of which, the concept of royalty among members of PFV is no exaggeration, though some of the blue blood flowing through members’ veins is merely aristocratic.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
27 Dec. 2025
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The deliberate exaggeration of both Lee’s performance and Park’s direction is what draws us into a suspension of moral disbelief, a sense of complicity with Man-su’s outrageous scheme.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The waterproof jacket is filled with 650-fill-power down for a plush and cozy feel.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
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Materials used included recycled nylon, Responsible Down Standard fill and mycelium vegan leather.—
Sarah Jones,
Footwear News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Heart rate decreases during stretching, which could signify the body entering a calm state.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
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Yoga, stretching, and extra sleep (past all the snoozes) become their own kind of training.—
JamiLee Hoglind,
Outside,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After 60+ years of traveling, Trudi and Harvey Feinman have become experts in packing and more.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
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Fill it to the brim, zip it up, then press down on the lid to activate an internal compression system that locks everything tightly in place, giving you up to 25% more packing capacity.—
Sal Vaglica,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Picture books of colorful flowers and plants, as well as seed catalogs, can be wonderful sources of memory enhancement.—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
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The new mining vehicle features engineering enhancements designed to overcome the challenges of the seabed.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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These cookies are all chocolate, no filler.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
1 Nov. 2025
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Courtesy of its super-dense filler (Styrofoam beans), this famous beanbag chair may be an investment, but its historic background is worth its high price tag.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But in contrast to these common caricatures, surveys of public opinion consistently show that most people around the world hold positive views of wolves, often overwhelmingly so.—
Justin Angle,
The Conversation,
6 Jan. 2026
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Chamberlain also included a drawing of the girls in the group done on a paper tablecloth which included caricatures of Carpenter, Sandoval, Chamberlain and Sarah, as well as Carpenter's friend Amber Mark.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Padding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/padding. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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