as in to expand
to make or become larger especially because of pressure from inside
The illness can cause the stomach to distend.
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Recent Examples of distend
The effect is to both collapse and distend time until all the souls in the book, most of them nameless anyway, exist at the same time, in the same place, forever.
—
Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2025
Isaiah was also malnourished and dehydrated at the time of his death, with his small and large intestines markedly distended.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2017
The pup’s abdomen was firm and distended.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
The Most Exciting New Advances in Managing COPD With another strategy, diaphragmatic breathing, patients concentrate on distending their abdomen while taking in air.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
Abdominal bloating is when the stomach feels full of gas and may become distended (sticks out).
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Sep. 2024
His stomach was distended — a sign of severe malnutrition.
—Joe Snell, Washington Post, 30 July 2024
The dress had been constructed from a boudoir-ish bodice, which distended into a full-skirted ballgown, giving the impression of deliberate deshabillé, as if the design had been left unfinished on the mannequin.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
Their heads are twizzling, their eyes bulging, their teeth ground to the gums, their bowels distended.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 23 Dec. 2023
Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2025
Isaiah was also malnourished and dehydrated at the time of his death, with his small and large intestines markedly distended.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2017
The pup’s abdomen was firm and distended.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
The Most Exciting New Advances in Managing COPD With another strategy, diaphragmatic breathing, patients concentrate on distending their abdomen while taking in air.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
Abdominal bloating is when the stomach feels full of gas and may become distended (sticks out).
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Sep. 2024
His stomach was distended — a sign of severe malnutrition.
—Joe Snell, Washington Post, 30 July 2024
The dress had been constructed from a boudoir-ish bodice, which distended into a full-skirted ballgown, giving the impression of deliberate deshabillé, as if the design had been left unfinished on the mannequin.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 17 Apr. 2024
Their heads are twizzling, their eyes bulging, their teeth ground to the gums, their bowels distended.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 23 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distend
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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Trump’s memo will go into the history books as a moment when presidential power expanded to put under his control a military force aimed at U.S. civilians.—
Anita Chabria,
Los Angeles Times,
8 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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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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Here, instead, everything is more dilated in time and there are fewer things on your schedule.—
Billboard Italy,
Billboard,
16 May 2025
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The research adds that simultaneously, a cold plunge can improve circulation by dilating the blood vessels—a win for cardiovascular health, if done regularly.—
Mara Santilli,
Flow Space,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distend. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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