1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the number of students who stay home sick balloons every winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the paper bag ballooned and blew away as the wind lifted it skyward
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of balloon
And later that same day, House Republicans passed a bill that would balloon the federal deficit.
—
Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Power grids strained, energy costs ballooned and the companies that failed to plan paid the price.
—Erik Greenstein, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
By 1929, even as the federal budget ballooned, veterans benefits still represented 20% of the total federal budget.
—Jamie Rowen, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
Starship’s sheer size, coupled with more frequent launches, could balloon Starbase’s overall environmental footprint while also essentially shutting down Highway 4 for much of the year.
—Paola Rosa-Aquino, Scientific American, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Power grids strained, energy costs ballooned and the companies that failed to plan paid the price.
—Erik Greenstein, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
By 1929, even as the federal budget ballooned, veterans benefits still represented 20% of the total federal budget.
—Jamie Rowen, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
Starship’s sheer size, coupled with more frequent launches, could balloon Starbase’s overall environmental footprint while also essentially shutting down Highway 4 for much of the year.
—Paola Rosa-Aquino, Scientific American, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balloon
Verb
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Whether that caution slows adoption or increases security maturity remains to be seen, but the message is unambiguous: the era of unchecked AI optimism in federal cybersecurity is over.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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The company said an indicator light on the vehicle fails to light up and warn drivers of a traction control system or dynamic stability control system issue, increasing the likelihood of them crashing.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
Verb
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The animals have small eyes that slightly protrude from their heads, which are smooth and flat, according to the study.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
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Books fly off the shelves, a protruding nail vanishes and then reappears, a Ouija board spells an incomplete message, and there’s definitely something on the third floor.—
Gabino Iglesias,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
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This could further exacerbate the challenges facing first-time homebuyers in the state, who are struggling to get on the property ladder due to historically high mortgage rates, rising prices, and growing housing costs.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
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Interestingly, this percentage rises to 64% when examining data from the last 3 years instead of 5.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
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That victory put O’Malley back in the rankings. O’Malley’s next bout ended in a no contest, when an eye poke in the second round left Pedro Munhoz unable to continue.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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Senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev poked fun at the explosive war of words between U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, offering to mediate peace between the two political allies.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Such symptoms may include: itchy mouth, swelling of the skin, especially lips and eyes, skin rash with hives, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, coughing, asthma symptoms, light headedness, passing out and more.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
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Before the performance came to a close, Khalifa was overcome with emotion as his tear ducts began to swell.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
10 June 2025
Verb
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Photos posted online showed the snake arrived at a Virginia animal hospital with a bulging body.—
Simone Jasper,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2025
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This week, they’re dominated by the moon, which enters its bulging gibbous phase in advance of next week’s full strawberry moon.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Verb
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The state both increased funding for special education and accelerated by one year the commitment to fully funding the Education Cost Sharing formula, through which most state aid for local education flows.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
14 June 2025
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Iran’s nuclear program accelerated after the breakdown of the 2015 nuclear agreement which halted international inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
Verb
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Stablecoins are often treated as satellites of U.S. monetary policy—dollar proxies that expand liquidity and shore up Treasury demand.—
Jemma Green,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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Abu Shabab’s social media presence, along with slick videos and fluent English commentary, has expanded.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balloon. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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