DISTENDED Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

distended 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈsten-dəd

Definition of distended

as in swollen

enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure bees with abdomens distended with honey are less apt to sting

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

distended

2 of 2

verb

past tense of distend

as in swelled

to make or become larger especially because of pressure from inside The illness can cause the stomach to distend.

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of distended

Adjective

The distended episodes were littered with what feels like filler, little of which offered much in the way of narrative value. — Emma Flint, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025 Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026 Once per act, a second duo crashes in on Didi and Gogo, providing the tramps’ power balance with a lurid, distended foil. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025 Following too much pasta or one too many sweet treats, my stomach gets quite sensitive—resulting in a feeling of tightness and a distended, rumbling tummy. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 20 May 2025

Verb

His abdomen became very hard and distended. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026 My stomach wasn't distended anymore. — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026 His abdomen became distended, and his behavior changed — enough to concern caregivers. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026 Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026 In his songs, the English language turned woolier and more expressionistic; musical space-time distended and stretched. — New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026 According to a July 2025 update, Elliot’s abdomen was very hard and distended. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026 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 Boxing scenes in movies, other than in a handful of classics, tend to start to look all the same, a mishmash of beads of sweat and blood and jowels distended, all fists flying and battering as two men catapult and careen across the ring. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distended

Adjective

While premium seats offer more room to stretch out, long periods of sitting can still leave your feet and ankles feeling swollen, especially on international flights.

— Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
The two-way star, who turns 32 on Sunday, spoke Friday night with a heavy bandage on his swollen left knee to go with his usual ice wrap around his pitching arm.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of swollen

Verb

Her five of fifty-eight party-line rulings swelled this term to thirteen of fifty-six.

— Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
Over the last three years, DpHue has more than doubled its business in Ulta and Amazon, specifically, as the at-home color market has swelled 3 to 5 percent annually.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 29 June 2026

Definition of swelled

Verb

Since his appointment to COO in 2018, the firm’s assets under management have roughly doubled, while its client base has expanded across new geographies.

— Rachel Ventresca, Fortune, 5 July 2026
Companies that made the largest AI investment expanded entry-level job hiring by 12%.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of expanded

Verb

And Harleys has entirely redesigned the rear -suspension and increased its travel 117 per cent to five inches (13 cm).

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
The share of workers with hybrid schedules has increased a bit, while the share in fully remote positions has only seen a slight decline.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 July 2026

Definition of increased

Verb

Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Yes, the prices are probably inflated, but the sun protection is worth it.

— Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026

Definition of inflated

Verb

With each emergency, laws were enacted, bureaus created, budgets enlarged, and civil liberties restricted.

— Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 1 July 2026
Some feature one large flower that covers the entire dress, enlarged to become the entire focus point; others are blurred as if someone's run a damp brush over them.

— Marilú Almaguer, Glamour, 25 June 2026

Definition of enlarged

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“Distended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distended. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of distended

adjective

verb

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