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
There had always been a few Kennedy acolytes hanging around the block, Dean says, but that number has ballooned since Ryan Murphy’s Love Story premiered in February.
—
Clio Chang, Curbed, 12 Mar. 2026
While the expenses ballooned, so did the timeline, meaning the W140 hit the market 18 months late.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2026
His price ballooned well beyond what the Eagles were willing to spend.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Her skirt ballooned out into a ruched bubble design with a flirty miniskirt in the front and a longer ankle-grazing length in the back, adding a whimsical yet dramatic element to the look.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Clio Chang, Curbed, 12 Mar. 2026
While the expenses ballooned, so did the timeline, meaning the W140 hit the market 18 months late.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2026
His price ballooned well beyond what the Eagles were willing to spend.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Her skirt ballooned out into a ruched bubble design with a flirty miniskirt in the front and a longer ankle-grazing length in the back, adding a whimsical yet dramatic element to the look.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balloon
Verb
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This kind of early-season heat can also increase fire weather concerns across parts of Colorado, especially when warm temperatures combine with dry air and gusty winds.—
Joe Ruch,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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But the Denver offense, which increased the pressure in the final minutes of the match, couldn’t find the back of the net again.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Or if a finger was so sliced open that the bone protruded.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
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The front tire was flat, with a screw protruding from it.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lambermont pushed back on the assertion that data centers are squarely to blame for rising electricity bills.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
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It is also called Resurrection Sunday and is celebrated as the day Jesus rose from the dead.—
Faith Bugenhagen,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kellner pokes a ball into the soft spot in left-center, scoring two runs.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
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Many spectators poked fun at the efforts of Chicago police to confiscate and collect BORGs in viral posts over the weekend.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On the morning of March 14, hospital staff noted his tongue had swollen and administered epinephrine.—
Bo Evans,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Lawmakers pared back the idea through the amendment process in February, citing concerns that the original language would swell state spending, box out private pest control companies and create an unfunded mandate to counties, which historically handle pests that threaten farms and infrastructure.—
Mark Dee
March 17,
Idaho Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Angelenos’ eyes bulged at the $1,500-a-head price tag.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
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Penn’s curdled facial expressions, sever buzzcut and bulging biceps morphed him into a cruel lethal weapon, but that performance — like Taylor’s — stayed stuck in the same groove throughout.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Military robot surge Foundation is accelerating the development of military-capable humanoid robots, with plans to manufacture up to 50,000 units by the end of 2027.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
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This is especially important after age 65, which is when muscle loss accelerates, Zinn says.—
Kirsten Nunez,
Martha Stewart,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Other bank expansions in Charlotte Several other banks have been expanding in the Charlotte region, too.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
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Production plans call for an initial deployment of dozens of units this year, scaling to thousands annually as manufacturing capacity expands.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balloon. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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