as in blown
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure
a swollen ankle from a sprain
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Recent Examples of swollen
The stretchy upper was able to accommodate her swollen feet throughout the day without causing any major pain.
—
Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
My throat was scorched, my tongue was swollen — and the acid would not stop coming.
—Jack Korngold, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2025
If that happens, widespread flooding is possible, with swollen rivers and streams that could take days to recede.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
In a startling image, a pregnant Perfidia fires off rounds with a machine-gun butt pressed against her swollen belly.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Her swollen hand was practically smoked with pub fumes, just peel off a piece and dip it in mustard and horseradish.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Chagas disease symptoms include swollen eyelids, fever, diarrhea and loss of appetite.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
For more than four years, Lynn Milam's life was bound by the pain that radiated from her swollen joints.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 22 Sep. 2025
Mayor Todd Gloria and the City Council refused to balance the city’s budget with reasonable reductions in City Hall’s swollen workforce.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
My throat was scorched, my tongue was swollen — and the acid would not stop coming.
—Jack Korngold, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2025
If that happens, widespread flooding is possible, with swollen rivers and streams that could take days to recede.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
In a startling image, a pregnant Perfidia fires off rounds with a machine-gun butt pressed against her swollen belly.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025
Her swollen hand was practically smoked with pub fumes, just peel off a piece and dip it in mustard and horseradish.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Chagas disease symptoms include swollen eyelids, fever, diarrhea and loss of appetite.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
For more than four years, Lynn Milam's life was bound by the pain that radiated from her swollen joints.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 22 Sep. 2025
Mayor Todd Gloria and the City Council refused to balance the city’s budget with reasonable reductions in City Hall’s swollen workforce.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swollen
distended
Adjective
-
Once per act, a second duo crashes in on Didi and Gogo, providing the tramps’ power balance with a lurid, distended foil.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
29 Sep. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Swollen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swollen. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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