as in stretched
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as in exaggerated
to add to the interest of by including made-up details
the journalist was fired for padding certain stories to make them more interesting
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Recent Examples of padded
Annie Blackman, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
The under-3 set can play in a padded area or roll around in a ball pit at Tot*Spot.
—Elena Donovan Mauer, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
Each suite also features padded headboards, tray ceilings, writing desks, espresso machines, refrigerators, and height-adjustable compact tables that unfold for in-suite dining.
—Janice Wald Henderson, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
The women’s uniforms include a padded full skirt, with matching base layer and tignon wrapped around the head.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
Farmhouse looks very elegant in this piece from Amber Interiors that features both a padded head and footboard to offset the intensity of the iron frame.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 5 Feb. 2026
The Seattle Seahawks opened Super Bowl week Wednesday with their first and only padded practice of the week before the game.
—Boston Herald Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
The head coach of the Seahawks is preparing his team — with a padded practice Wednesday — to face the Patriots on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
—D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC.com, 5 Feb. 2026
The photo showed children on padded floor mats with silver Mylar thermal blankets, walled in by chain-link fencing.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
The Seahawks players already padded their bank accounts by nearly $200,000 through the first three rounds of the playoffs.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The Tommies padded the lead with a power-play goal by Jake Braccini midway through the period before the Huskies added a goal in the final minute.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2026
The ribbed side is certainly quilt-like, which is not surprising because each ribbon that runs through the duvet cover is padded ever so slightly.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 23 Jan. 2026
The Denver defense padded their stats against a bunch of second tier teams.
—Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
The ivory ballgown featured a Victorian-style lace bodice with a V-neckline, a skirt that was padded at the hips to resemble an opening flower and a nearly 9-foot-long train.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
But his co-stars remained quiet, and Miami padded its lead.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
The insoles are padded with thick latex for comfort and extra breathability so your feet don’t get sweaty.
—Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
The pair has a slightly more vintage feel, with a sporty, layered panel construction and comfortable padded insoles.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
The under-3 set can play in a padded area or roll around in a ball pit at Tot*Spot.
—Elena Donovan Mauer, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
Each suite also features padded headboards, tray ceilings, writing desks, espresso machines, refrigerators, and height-adjustable compact tables that unfold for in-suite dining.
—Janice Wald Henderson, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
The women’s uniforms include a padded full skirt, with matching base layer and tignon wrapped around the head.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
Farmhouse looks very elegant in this piece from Amber Interiors that features both a padded head and footboard to offset the intensity of the iron frame.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 5 Feb. 2026
The Seattle Seahawks opened Super Bowl week Wednesday with their first and only padded practice of the week before the game.
—Boston Herald Staff, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
The head coach of the Seahawks is preparing his team — with a padded practice Wednesday — to face the Patriots on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
—D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC.com, 5 Feb. 2026
The photo showed children on padded floor mats with silver Mylar thermal blankets, walled in by chain-link fencing.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Merrell SpeedARC Matis Hiking Shoes Upgrade your hiking shoes to this Merrell style, featuring breathable mesh and padded collars to keep your feet cozy during your outdoor adventures.
—Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
The Seahawks players already padded their bank accounts by nearly $200,000 through the first three rounds of the playoffs.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The Tommies padded the lead with a power-play goal by Jake Braccini midway through the period before the Huskies added a goal in the final minute.
—Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2026
The ribbed side is certainly quilt-like, which is not surprising because each ribbon that runs through the duvet cover is padded ever so slightly.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 23 Jan. 2026
The Denver defense padded their stats against a bunch of second tier teams.
—Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
The ivory ballgown featured a Victorian-style lace bodice with a V-neckline, a skirt that was padded at the hips to resemble an opening flower and a nearly 9-foot-long train.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
But his co-stars remained quiet, and Miami padded its lead.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026
The insoles are padded with thick latex for comfort and extra breathability so your feet don’t get sweaty.
—Olivia Dubyak, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for padded
Adjective
-
It’s formulated with calcium to promote new cell growth, adenosine to fill in wrinkles, collagen to maintain your skin’s density and thickness, elastin to restore stretched skin, and Vitamin D for rejuvenation.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The stretched body improves aerodynamics while giving the car a sleek, understated appearance.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Costume designer Lissy Turner drapes Parsons in flowy layers and embroidered velvet, conveying everything the audience needs to know about this woman and her kooky, open-minded beliefs.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
-
For farmhouse flair, look to the retailer’s range of sweet, embroidered florals and wallpaper-esque prints.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
During Coulier's six-month checkup and PET scans, doctors discovered a flare-up had returned as an enlarged tumor.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Other features include an entrance plaza, a new seventy-four-seat forum, an enlarged seventh-floor sky room, and three new elevators, to improve circulation.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Already known for her skin-baring fashions, Kardashian took her style to the next level in a catsuit made out of sheer and embellished lace that showed her SKIMS bra underneath.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
-
At the center of it all, Yerin Ha radiates in a shimmering empire waist gown, silver gloves, and an embellished mask.—
Madeline Hirsch,
InStyle,
19 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Whereas Apollo space suits were akin to wearing an inflated balloon that greatly hindered motion, the AxEMU is designed with flexible joints that give astronauts mobility to kneel, jog or even do the splits.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Haber said in these contracts, Coto agreed to pay inflated prices for services for the building, including cleaning, security and maintenance.—
Catherine Odom
February 5,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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
Adjective
-
For the Fed, which was raising interest rates in 2023 and 2024, this meant that policy decisions may have been based on an overstated view of economic strength.—
Jeff Gapusan,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Getty Images The committee's move followed a June Federal Railroad Administration compliance review that concluded the California High-Speed Rail Authority lacked a viable path to complete the project on time or on budget and flagged overstated ridership projections and other management failures.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Padded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/padded. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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