as in swollen
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure
her eyelid was so puffed she couldn't see with that eye
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
The look featured a hood and a puffed silhouette.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Bake until puffed and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
Cover and let rise in a warm place until puffed and almost double in size (about 1 hour).
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2025
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
Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the biscuits are puffed and the bottoms are golden brown.
—Hailee Catalano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 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
In addition to its V-neck design and button-down silhouette, the sweater also has a collar and puffed sleeves for a dressier look.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
By way of reply, the kid puffed up his chest and smiled shyly.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Bake until center is puffed and golden, 40 to 45 minutes.
—Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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
Bake until puffed and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
Cover and let rise in a warm place until puffed and almost double in size (about 1 hour).
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the biscuits are puffed and the bottoms are golden brown.
—Hailee Catalano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 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
In addition to its V-neck design and button-down silhouette, the sweater also has a collar and puffed sleeves for a dressier look.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
By way of reply, the kid puffed up his chest and smiled shyly.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Bake until center is puffed and golden, 40 to 45 minutes.
—Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffed
Adjective
-
By December, her condition had worsened—a pain in her abdomen had emerged as well as more swollen lymph nodes—and she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that affects a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Consuming turmeric can relieve swollen and painful joints for people with chronic conditions.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The standing-room-only crowd gasped when Malinin gave up on the quad axel.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
When Heathcliff stuffed his fingers into Cathy’s mouth, a woman gasped and looked around the theater in disbelief.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Roberts applauded the growing social justice movement coming out of the files release and called for a criminal investigation of Mountbatten-Windsor.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Video shows most lawmakers in the room applauded the line.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
5 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
-
Trump’s allies have always stroked his ego to get their way.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In the comments, a few congratulated the lovebirds — sort of.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Malinin congratulated his Kazakhstani competitor after the event concluded.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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However, the priest has been praised by progressives for his academic achievements and his efforts to assist the poor.—
Manuel Rueda,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
-
But fans have widely praised Parker's vision and adherence to the source material.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Catholic leaders commended anyone who continues to work for peace and justice, including those who peacefully assemble, and are caring for their immigrant neighbors.—
Anissa Rivera,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Shapiro commended the strength of the new study.—
Jenna Anderson,
Health,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Myricks then applied it on the back of her hand and evenly massaged the product around the face, focusing on areas with texture or larger pores.—
Essence Wiley,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The other two guys, who are wearing undies when not getting massaged, are giving the lightest and most cursory of touches to either the shoulders or the calves.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffed. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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