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 fragile skeleton of her ego threatened to snap under the pressure of the animal forces that pressed down on her consciousness, her narrative mind sagging and distended beneath pitiless and grandiose feeling.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
In the last 20 days, their belly will appear distended, and their nipples and breast tissue will be noticeably swollen.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
The fear grew when her 1-year-old boy's belly started to distend and his ribs were pressed against his skin.
—Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Oct. 2025
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
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
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
Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
In the last 20 days, their belly will appear distended, and their nipples and breast tissue will be noticeably swollen.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
The fear grew when her 1-year-old boy's belly started to distend and his ribs were pressed against his skin.
—Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Oct. 2025
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distend
Verb
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For many schools, that means expanding technical education classes, building partnerships with local businesses, and getting creative with transporting teens — some just on the cusp of learning to drive — to part-time work.—
Carley Lanich,
IndyStar,
10 Feb. 2026
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Powered by rapid advances in embodied intelligence, China’s humanoid robots are advancing rapidly, expanding their potential roles in both industrial settings and home environments.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The arrival of the ATM famously led to the employment of more bank tellers, just as the introduction of Excel swelled the ranks of accountants and Photoshop spiked demand for graphic designers.—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
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When bleeding or swelling inside one of these compartments builds up, pressure rises and begins to squeeze the muscles, nerves and blood vessels.—
Michal Ruprecht,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The program will start with 3,000 volunteers to be selected next summer and will gradually increase to 10,000 per year by 2030.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
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Allowing its use on these two common crops will drastically expand how much is applied and increase harm, advocates say.—
Michael Phillis,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Curcumin can also enhance your body’s ability to dilate blood vessels, which in turn will reduce blood pressure.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
10 Feb. 2026
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In the later stages, skin will turn blue, pupils will dilate, and pulse and breathing slow.—
Brayden Garcia
January 21,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distend. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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