as in blown
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure
a swollen ankle from a sprain
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Recent Examples of swollen
Photos from the hospital show him with a bandage on his head, a bruised, swollen eye and a bloody gash on his cheek.
—
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
After heavy rain, swollen streams can burst their banks, carrying mud and boulders down the mountainsides.
—NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
Another sad snapshot of a 50-year-old man with a swollen face and baggy eyes who has become the Britney Spears of golf.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Similar to other GLP-1s, the most common side effects of Foundayo are gastrointestinal in nature, including nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, stomach pain, headache, swollen belly, fatigue, belching, heartburn, gas and hair loss.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
According to Eli Lilly, based on clinical studies, the side effects of the Foundayo pill include nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, stomach or abdominal pain, headache, swollen belly, tiredness, belching, heartburn, gas, and hair loss.
—Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Crevier came away with six stitches and a swollen jaw.
—Scott Powers, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
But just weeks later, her husband Zak was given bleak news after his eye doctor noticed Zak's optic nerves were swollen.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
The area may be slightly swollen, red, itchy and irritated.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
After heavy rain, swollen streams can burst their banks, carrying mud and boulders down the mountainsides.
—NPR, 4 Apr. 2026
Another sad snapshot of a 50-year-old man with a swollen face and baggy eyes who has become the Britney Spears of golf.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Similar to other GLP-1s, the most common side effects of Foundayo are gastrointestinal in nature, including nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, stomach pain, headache, swollen belly, fatigue, belching, heartburn, gas and hair loss.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026
According to Eli Lilly, based on clinical studies, the side effects of the Foundayo pill include nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, stomach or abdominal pain, headache, swollen belly, tiredness, belching, heartburn, gas, and hair loss.
—Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Crevier came away with six stitches and a swollen jaw.
—Scott Powers, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
But just weeks later, her husband Zak was given bleak news after his eye doctor noticed Zak's optic nerves were swollen.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
The area may be slightly swollen, red, itchy and irritated.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swollen
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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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 10 Apr. 2026.
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