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 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
The silhouettes are distended and reveal the skin beneath these big cobwebs of yarn.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2023
At 6-foot-3, pushing 330 pounds, his appearance was misshapen by a stomach distended with fluid.
—Max Blau, ProPublica, 21 Aug. 2023
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
The silhouettes are distended and reveal the skin beneath these big cobwebs of yarn.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2023
At 6-foot-3, pushing 330 pounds, his appearance was misshapen by a stomach distended with fluid.
—Max Blau, ProPublica, 21 Aug. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distend
Verb
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For 2024, the list was expanded to 450 companies and looked at their emissions between 2020 and 2022.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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Read: The Last of Us and the power of video games One of the best things about the TV adaptation has been its ability to expand past the limits of the game’s storytelling.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Almost 4 in 10 Americans said neither party is fighting for people like them, as pessimism for both major parties swells, according to a survey released Friday.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
25 Apr. 2025
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One patient had brain swelling and developed a cyst caused by radiation.—
Frieda Klotz,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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What Murray did in the second half was increase his aggression off the dribble.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be? (1) Infrastructure in forms of roads and increased police and fire due to the growing population.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
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Several tests allow ophthalmologists or optometrists to make a diagnosis: Fundus exam: Part of the standard eye exam, the healthcare provider uses special drops to dilate your pupils.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distend. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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