as in blown
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure
a swollen ankle from a sprain
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Recent Examples of swollen
This can also be caused by a lack of sleep—which also comes with risks of chronic fatigue, thinning hair and swollen lower eyelids.
—
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Trump’s apparently swollen ankles, which were photographed at the FIFA Club World Cup Final in July, have been connected to the condition.
—Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Someone hit Butler, who had a swollen face.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
For other types of bruised or swollen soft tissue, for example, from surgery or trauma, mild exercise further improves circulation.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Others suggested that it could be related to Trump's recent July diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, after he was spotted with apparently swollen ankles.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
His mugshot shows him with a deep, dark bruise near his swollen eye.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
Symptoms often begin with the bubonic form of the plague, which can cause health issues including fever, headache, chills, weakness and swollen lymph nodes.
—Greg Wehner , Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Trump’s apparently swollen ankles, which were photographed at the FIFA Club World Cup Final in July, have been connected to the condition.
—Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Someone hit Butler, who had a swollen face.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
For other types of bruised or swollen soft tissue, for example, from surgery or trauma, mild exercise further improves circulation.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Others suggested that it could be related to Trump's recent July diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, after he was spotted with apparently swollen ankles.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
His mugshot shows him with a deep, dark bruise near his swollen eye.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
Symptoms often begin with the bubonic form of the plague, which can cause health issues including fever, headache, chills, weakness and swollen lymph nodes.
—Greg Wehner , Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swollen
distended
Adjective
-
Following too much pasta or one too many sweet treats, my stomach gets quite sensitive—resulting in a feeling of tightness and a distended, rumbling tummy.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
20 May 2025
-
Bloating causes your belly to feel full and look distended.—
Kathleen Felton,
Health,
9 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Swollen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swollen. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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