as in blown
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure
a swollen ankle from a sprain
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Recent Examples of swollen
The physical exam, the fourth one of his second term came amid public scrutiny around visible bruises, skin discoloration and swollen ankles.
—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Poor circulation can leave your legs feeling tired, heavy, swollen, and stiff.
—Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 11 June 2026
Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive red rash resembling a bull's-eye.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Most people have no symptoms, but mild symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash on trunk of body and swollen lymph glands.
—Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
Common symptoms, according to LCDHE, include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and skin ulcers.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 9 June 2026
Humans may experience red, swollen, itchy bites around their midsection, ankles or lower legs.
—Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026
Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will not develop symptoms, but those who do may experience a mild form of the illness, which can include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands or a rash, according to the IDOH.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Those memories are swollen, soaked through.
—Lindsay Calleran, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Poor circulation can leave your legs feeling tired, heavy, swollen, and stiff.
—Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 11 June 2026
Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive red rash resembling a bull's-eye.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
Most people have no symptoms, but mild symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash on trunk of body and swollen lymph glands.
—Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
Common symptoms, according to LCDHE, include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and skin ulcers.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 9 June 2026
Humans may experience red, swollen, itchy bites around their midsection, ankles or lower legs.
—Emily Hayes, Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026
Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will not develop symptoms, but those who do may experience a mild form of the illness, which can include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands or a rash, according to the IDOH.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Those memories are swollen, soaked through.
—Lindsay Calleran, IndieWire, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swollen
Adjective
-
Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
27 May 2026
-
The distended episodes were littered with what feels like filler, little of which offered much in the way of narrative value.—
Emma Flint,
IndieWire,
25 Nov. 2025
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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Swollen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swollen. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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