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
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
An avalanche airbag backpack that inflates after the skier pulls the trigger giving the person a chance to stay above or close to the surface during an avalanche.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
This practice artificially inflates prices and prevents everyday Texans from outbidding Wall Street.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Now, rather than invest in more powerful and more expensive technologies, some scientists are using an alternative technique called expansion microscopy, which inflates the subject using the same moisture-absorbing material found in diapers.
—Molly Herring, Quanta Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
The same metric that inflates benefits in some regulatory contexts, understates them in others.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
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
An avalanche airbag backpack that inflates after the skier pulls the trigger giving the person a chance to stay above or close to the surface during an avalanche.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
This practice artificially inflates prices and prevents everyday Texans from outbidding Wall Street.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Now, rather than invest in more powerful and more expensive technologies, some scientists are using an alternative technique called expansion microscopy, which inflates the subject using the same moisture-absorbing material found in diapers.
—Molly Herring, Quanta Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
The same metric that inflates benefits in some regulatory contexts, understates them in others.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflates
Verb
-
China’s drive for technological self-sufficiency channels ever more resources into expanding industrial capacity, which, against a backdrop of weak domestic demand, only increases its dependence on exports.—
Neil Shearing,
Time,
20 May 2026
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Furthermore, heat increases electrical resistance for EV batteries and chargers, resulting in longer, more taxing charging sessions.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Sulentic also admitted that community opposition to data centers has intensified as the AI infrastructure boom accelerates.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
-
Domain-specific or compliance-ready models may maintain durable market positions even as general-purpose consolidation accelerates.—
Mayur Khandelwal,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The blaze hit Bearded Lady Ranch in Brady, Nebraska, which raises registered quarter horses.—
Kailey Schuyler,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
Chronic short sleep raises blood pressure, impairs glucose metabolism and is linked to higher rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The move aims to improve traceability and accountability as China’s humanoid robotics industry rapidly expands.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
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Yes—putting metaphorical pen to page is fundamental, but so, too, is nurturing that which expands my literary capacity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The amount that can be contributed to a Roth IRA is phased out as MAGI rises.—
Bob Carlson,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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Now the summer road trip season is approaching, when gasoline demand traditionally rises.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Throughout, visiting tourist Madeleine (Kristen Stewart) stuffs her face with every kind of meat, vegetable and carb while her father Phil (Woody Harrelson) is the one whose stomach miraculously swells.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
-
Buffett recently acknowledged displeasure with the investing backdrop as Berkshire's cash hoard swells to a record nearing $400 billion.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflates. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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