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
Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026
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
The Week Uk, TheWeek, 2 May 2026
The gently puffed sleeves offer a unique silhouette, and the knit detailing adds extra flair.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Declan Rice puffed his cheeks out for what could have been a world-record attempt in cheek-puffing.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Bake in preheated oven until very pale golden and puffed, 30 to 35 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
What emerged was an omelet of ideal and epitomic shape—straight, proudly puffed, about six and a half inches long and two and a half inches wide, with squarish ends and neither a speck nor drop of oil or liquid egg anywhere around.
—Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2026
Bake on the middle rack of the heated oven until the top is puffed and lightly golden and a knife inserted into the center comes out clear, 25 to 30 minutes.
—Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
When a stray kitten arrived at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter in early March, her tiny body was puffed up like a balloon.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
The couple in the portraits wear traditional folk costumes, down to the woman’s puffed white sleeves and the daisies embroidered on the straps of the man’s suspenders.
—Kendra Atleework, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Cover pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer, checking occasionally to make sure water isn’t boiling too rapidly, until matzo balls are very puffed and light in color, 30–40 minutes.
—Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026
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
Bake for 30 to 35 mins, switching the positions of the trays about halfway through, until the knots are puffed up and golden.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 2 May 2026
The gently puffed sleeves offer a unique silhouette, and the knit detailing adds extra flair.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
Declan Rice puffed his cheeks out for what could have been a world-record attempt in cheek-puffing.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Bake in preheated oven until very pale golden and puffed, 30 to 35 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
What emerged was an omelet of ideal and epitomic shape—straight, proudly puffed, about six and a half inches long and two and a half inches wide, with squarish ends and neither a speck nor drop of oil or liquid egg anywhere around.
—Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2026
Bake on the middle rack of the heated oven until the top is puffed and lightly golden and a knife inserted into the center comes out clear, 25 to 30 minutes.
—Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
When a stray kitten arrived at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter in early March, her tiny body was puffed up like a balloon.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
The couple in the portraits wear traditional folk costumes, down to the woman’s puffed white sleeves and the daisies embroidered on the straps of the man’s suspenders.
—Kendra Atleework, Longreads, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffed
Adjective
-
These are massive stars in their later stages, swollen and ruddy, shining bright across the cosmos.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
-
The Puma was out, less than 12 hours before post time, because of a swollen leg from a skin infection.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Some audibly gasped and appeared in shock when it was announced that King Charles III and Queen Camilla would shortly be arriving to lay wreaths at the tomb.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
When Harari told the same story on The Daily Show, the audience gasped.—
Amanda Gefter,
Quanta Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Supporters of the rule change have applauded the move, calling it a victory for gun owners.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
At the time, Jim ranked Microsoft third after Alphabet and Amazon, whose capex outlook hikes were applauded by the market.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
On one of the machines a Cluely employee panted and huffed in the dark.—
Sam Kriss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Freddie Freeman stroked a two-out RBI single up the middle in the fifth inning to put the Dodgers ahead 3-0.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
-
Last weekend, after Petteys stroked three doubles in a victory over Creighton, the Bluejays showed her the ultimate respect, walking her four times, three intentionally, during the remainder of the series at Burrill Family Field, UConn taking two of three.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After Biles qualified for her third Olympic Games, Owens congratulated his wife with a kiss while holding a cutout of her face.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Lush’s other co-founder, Mark Constantine, reviewed these lackluster bars and congratulated the pair on inventing something new(ish… solid was historically the norm in body and hair care up until plastic bottles took over).—
Kara McGrath,
Allure,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wintour then praised her co-chair Lauren Sánchez Bezos, citing her energy and positive attitude.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
5 May 2026
-
Last year, she was praised for her take on Site Santa Fe.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Parker also commended Sheridan and 101 Studios for their commitment and investment in Fort Worth.—
Brayden Garcia
May 4,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 May 2026
-
So yes, Marinakis must clearly be commended for spending big and showing ambition on and off the field, with plans to expand the City Ground to more than 50,000 seats, having already revamped the training ground.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffed. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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