1
as in increases
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.
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2
as in accelerates
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
Airbags are designed to inflate automatically on impact.
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Recent Examples of inflates
This pattern of extreme volatility is common in high-profile IPOs, where initial hype often inflates share values.
—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
It’s made of strong, tear-resistant nylon and inflates manually using about nine breaths.
—
Bestreviews,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
This spa inflates within minutes and heats quickly as well.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
The legislation further inflates ICE’s usual $10 billion annual budget.
—
Chad De Guzman,
Time,
10 June 2026
Prosecutors said fraudulent activity artificially inflates streams, reducing the amount paid to musicians and songwriters whose work is listened to by real audiences.
—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
In order to minimize rider impact with the handlebars or other hard surfaces, the airbag inflates upward during a forward crash.
—
New Atlas,
24 Mar. 2026
Students that are assigned a teacher that inflates grades are more likely to score poorly on future tests.
—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Their croaking involves pushing air over vocal cords into a thin membrane known as a vocal sac that inflates under the chin.
—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
It’s made of strong, tear-resistant nylon and inflates manually using about nine breaths.
—
Bestreviews,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
This spa inflates within minutes and heats quickly as well.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
The legislation further inflates ICE’s usual $10 billion annual budget.
—
Chad De Guzman,
Time,
10 June 2026
Prosecutors said fraudulent activity artificially inflates streams, reducing the amount paid to musicians and songwriters whose work is listened to by real audiences.
—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
In order to minimize rider impact with the handlebars or other hard surfaces, the airbag inflates upward during a forward crash.
—
New Atlas,
24 Mar. 2026
Students that are assigned a teacher that inflates grades are more likely to score poorly on future tests.
—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Their croaking involves pushing air over vocal cords into a thin membrane known as a vocal sac that inflates under the chin.
—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflates
Verb
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During pregnancy, iron demand increases to support both the baby and placenta, while postpartum recovery can further lower ferritin due to blood loss.
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Beginning a section of rules with a short explanation about the rule’s purpose makes a more positive statement to the community, and hopefully increases community compliance and cooperation.
Verb
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Discovery process accelerates For decades, scientists have relied largely on trial and error to discover superconducting materials.
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Problem-solving accelerates because feedback is immediate, silos begin to break down and team members feel empowered to contribute.
Verb
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At present, the union is pushing for 11% raises each year for three years — a proposal that the CSU has not yet responded to.
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This close work between the private entity – usually Google – and law enforcement throughout the geofence warrant process raises significant privacy and civil liberties concerns.
Verb
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The tax law also expands Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in shorter-term workforce training programs.
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The temporary rule expands that list to 29 specific degree programs, including master of science in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, and doctor of nurse anesthesia practice.
Verb
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And by the 12th year, this number rises to $113,000, exceeding the median salary for graduate degree-holders in the state, according to the data released by the UC’s Institutional Research and Academic Planning department.
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Timeline Tuesday, July 7-Thursday, July 16The last-quarter moon rises around midnight on July 7, leaving the evening sky dark and beginning July’s best stargazing window.
Verb
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Most people only hear about it when a lymph node swells during a cold, or when a social media video promises a gua sha stone will detox their face.
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And if out-of-towners are visiting, the ranks of the older timers swells a few more.
Cite this Entry
“Inflates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflates. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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