as in blown
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure
a swollen ankle from a sprain
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Recent Examples of swollen
Her daughter, 1-year-old Imani Mitchell, was swollen and heavily bruised, according to the outlet.
—
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Varicose veins—visible, swollen blood vessels underneath your skin, usually in your legs—can happen when blood that usually flows toward your heart backs up and pools in a vein.
—Sarah Hudgens, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
Evening primrose is a yellow flower commonly used by Native Americans to heal bruises, wounds, and swollen skin.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 3 Sep. 2025
On May 2, Alisha Gaddy posted a picture of her brother's swollen, bruised face to Facebook.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
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
His mugshot shows him with a deep, dark bruise near his swollen eye.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Varicose veins—visible, swollen blood vessels underneath your skin, usually in your legs—can happen when blood that usually flows toward your heart backs up and pools in a vein.
—Sarah Hudgens, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
Evening primrose is a yellow flower commonly used by Native Americans to heal bruises, wounds, and swollen skin.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 3 Sep. 2025
On May 2, Alisha Gaddy posted a picture of her brother's swollen, bruised face to Facebook.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
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
His mugshot shows him with a deep, dark bruise near his swollen eye.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 26 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 16 Sep. 2025.
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