as in swollen
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure
her eyelid was so puffed she couldn't see with that eye
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in gasped
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty
he came running up the stairs puffing and wheezing
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in applauded
to praise too much
a talk show host who can be counted on to puff up the celebrities who readily consent to be interviewed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of puffed
Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
Bake until puffed and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
The restaurant serves both traditional pancakes and a German-style pancake baked until puffed and golden, a menu item that has helped set it apart over the decades.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
The look featured a hood and a puffed silhouette.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Alice Cary, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2026
Bake cookies, rotating baking sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until slightly puffed and cracked, 11–15 minutes.
—Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Feb. 2026
There are corsets, puffed sleeves and little old timey trinkets that speak of her and co-star Jacob Elordi’s bond.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Bake until puffed and golden brown, 11 to 15 minutes.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
Loosely cover using plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm place (75°F) until puffed and nearly doubled in size, 45 to 60 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Accentuating her features with her signature brown smoky eyeshadow, matte mauve lipstick, and a pink flush on her cheekbones, Kylie puffed on a cigarette and gazed into the camera’s lens as the shot faded to black.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Joey McGuire pulled Morton toward him and whispered something to his quarterback, who then puffed his chest and went forward with the postgame conference.
—Ty Kaplan, Dallas Morning News, 1 Jan. 2026
His cheeks puffed and his eyes crossed.
—Emilia Petrarca, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Bake, 1 baking sheet at a time, in preheated oven until slightly puffed and golden brown, about 12 minutes.
—Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
Bake until puffed and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
The restaurant serves both traditional pancakes and a German-style pancake baked until puffed and golden, a menu item that has helped set it apart over the decades.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
The look featured a hood and a puffed silhouette.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
Top-wise, besides corsetry, retailers will no doubt zero in on silhouettes that float and drape on the body, with Isabella-esque puffed sleeves or Cathy-leaning off-the-shoulder necklines.
—Alice Cary, Vogue, 24 Feb. 2026
Bake cookies, rotating baking sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until slightly puffed and cracked, 11–15 minutes.
—Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Feb. 2026
There are corsets, puffed sleeves and little old timey trinkets that speak of her and co-star Jacob Elordi’s bond.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Bake until puffed and golden brown, 11 to 15 minutes.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026
Loosely cover using plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm place (75°F) until puffed and nearly doubled in size, 45 to 60 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Accentuating her features with her signature brown smoky eyeshadow, matte mauve lipstick, and a pink flush on her cheekbones, Kylie puffed on a cigarette and gazed into the camera’s lens as the shot faded to black.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Joey McGuire pulled Morton toward him and whispered something to his quarterback, who then puffed his chest and went forward with the postgame conference.
—Ty Kaplan, Dallas Morning News, 1 Jan. 2026
His cheeks puffed and his eyes crossed.
—Emilia Petrarca, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffed
Adjective
-
Signs of disease include warts on legs, crusty or swollen eyes, feebleness, a ruffled appearance, difficulty breathing, nasal discharge, and diarrhea.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
-
As part of his reward for donating his roe-swollen bigmouth to the stocking program, he’ll be given a replica mount of the huge fish.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The View's audience gasped at the observation, which Haines strongly countered.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Jordan was visibly startled when Davidson yelled from the auditorium as audience members gasped.—
John Ross,
Vanity Fair,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The audience whooped and applauded.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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In the front row, Paul McCartney — former Beatle, eternal rock star, proud father — applauded.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On one of the machines a Cluely employee panted and huffed in the dark.—
Sam Kriss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Influenced by her Indian heritage, Japanese craft philosophy, and the traditions of Shetland knitting, her work is highly distinctive and also wholly wearable; David and I stroked scarves, asymmetric wraps, and sweaters with yearning.—
Sarah Moss,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
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Trump’s allies have always stroked his ego to get their way.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, D-Tracy, who is the chair of the Assembly Emergency Management Committee congratulated Thomas Jacobs in a Tuesday statement.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
3 Mar. 2026
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Fraternity members congratulated each winner and posed for group photos with their full carts.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mandel, who sells media rights to many of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world, praised the company for focusing on storytelling and turning the streaming service into the home for tennis.—
Lucas Shaw,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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Deb Banks, executive director of Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates also praised the move, saying that a complete closure during the pilot would be better than having streets closed to traffic only on certain days.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Detective Macy Sanchez and Officer Justine Chevalier were commended for saving a man from drowning in a pool by both jumping in to rescue him, and starting CPR.—
Terri Daxon,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
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Jones also commended the younger Guthrie for her strength.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffed. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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