as in exaggerated
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds
he's been walking around with an inflated ego every since he got the promotion
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in increased
to make greater in size, amount, or number
Check that you have inflated your tires to the recommended pressure. Some sellers were inflating their prices by as much as 500 per cent.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in accelerated
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
Airbags are designed to inflate automatically on impact.
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inflated
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Jan. 2026
The ball itself was usually an inflated animal bladder, like a cow bladder, explains Louis Moore, a professor at Michigan State University, who teaches sports history.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 28 Jan. 2026
Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Leading preservationists also released a report that says the city’s repair estimates are inflated, with costs likely to be at $50 million.
—Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflated
Adjective
Oversized fits—from bomber jackets and cow-print fleece coordinates to wide-leg jeans—were balanced with boots with inflated toes and straps.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 29 Jan. 2026
The ball itself was usually an inflated animal bladder, like a cow bladder, explains Louis Moore, a professor at Michigan State University, who teaches sports history.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
The club argues that the market is inflated at this time of year, and that the few good options available are too expensive.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Leading preservationists also released a report that says the city’s repair estimates are inflated, with costs likely to be at $50 million.
—Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inflated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflated
Adjective
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Spanx AirEssentials Half Zip Half zip and quarter zip sweaters are having a moment, and this Spanx sweater elevates the style even further with a statement-making exaggerated collar.—
Taylor Fox,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Feb. 2026
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According to Nahmias, the low-top shoe’s design is meant to capture the mountainous ranges that meet the water throughout California and features an upper inspired by a popular skate shoe paired with an exaggerated sole made of lightweight materials.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The phrase has been tagged in more than 550,000 posts on Instagram, while on TikTok the number of videos with the #curatedvintage hashtag increased by 50% in the past year.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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According to the complaint, the companies and their subsidiaries repeatedly increased EpiPen prices and paid pharmacy benefit managers to keep rival products off the market, which violates the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act, the Indiana Antitrust Act and the Medicaid False Claims Act.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Those investigators learned that Rich was standing in the intersection with his hands on his hips and was not armed when DeOrzio accelerated without a warning and struck him, Steele said.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
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The pandemic, of course, accelerated a troubling trend of newspaper closures over the last 20 years.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The enhanced subsidies, which expanded eligibility both by lowering the percentage of household income people had to pay toward their care and removing an income cap, expired at the end of last year.—
Julie Appleby,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
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Russia has been seen modernizing its nuclear facilities, and in recent years, China has expanded its main test site by digging new tunnels.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Iowa Electronic Markets helped plant the seed for the modern-day prediction market companies that have ballooned into a multibillion-dollar industry, offering contracts on everything from the Super Bowl to the number of times Elon Musk will post on X in early February.—
Suzy Khimm,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
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Chastain is a partner at Duro today, and the company has ballooned to 400 employees.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Haynam’s lawsuit came as scrutiny of Kersten’s leadership swelled in the wake of the Dexter Reed shooting in March 2024.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
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The scandal swelled after British media reported a trove of emails between Mandelson and Epstein, in which the veteran Labour politician expressed support for his friend, despite the financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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Trump has not ruled out granting Maxwell clemency, but Republican pushback to that notion quickly rose after Maxwell made the appeal.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Swirling and intricate pink rose custom Pierre Frey wallpaper and deep blue wainscoting lead to the LaVerne suite, and mint greens and pastel pinks plus detailed wallpaper of Southwestern cacti and brush mirror Hal Thompson’s likes.—
Mandy Ellis,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflated. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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