as in swollen
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure
her eyelid was so puffed she couldn't see with that eye
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in gasped
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty
he came running up the stairs puffing and wheezing
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in applauded
to praise too much
a talk show host who can be counted on to puff up the celebrities who readily consent to be interviewed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of puffed
Molly Baz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Mar. 2026
Bake, 1 baking sheet at a time, in preheated oven until slightly puffed and golden brown, about 12 minutes.
—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Bake until puffed and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.
—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
The restaurant serves both traditional pancakes and a German-style pancake baked until puffed and golden, a menu item that has helped set it apart over the decades.
—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
18 Jan. 2026
The look featured a hood and a puffed silhouette.
—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
Place puffed corn in a large 17x12x2-inch roasting pan.
—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 June 2026
And over the years, an increase in solar activity — space weather from the sun — has puffed up Earth's atmosphere to create more drag on Swift than expected, pulling it down from its initial orbit.
—
Tariq Malik,
Space.com,
19 June 2026
His lips puffed with each breath.
—
Cameron Knight,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
17 June 2026
The Whitaker Group and Adidas also puffed together recently on the BW Army.
—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
In contrast, eating refined grains like white bread, puffed rice, or white rice might increase inflammation and make your joints hurt more.
—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
12 June 2026
The ring of pastry was crisp and impressively puffed, like a peacock’s display of courtship.
—
The Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 June 2026
Vermiculite, a fine, puffed, gold flecks mica, which helps with drainage.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Adjective
Cover pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer, checking occasionally to make sure water isn’t boiling too rapidly, until matzo balls are very puffed and light in color, 30–40 minutes.
—
Molly Baz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Mar. 2026
Bake, 1 baking sheet at a time, in preheated oven until slightly puffed and golden brown, about 12 minutes.
—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Bake until puffed and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.
—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
The restaurant serves both traditional pancakes and a German-style pancake baked until puffed and golden, a menu item that has helped set it apart over the decades.
—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
18 Jan. 2026
The look featured a hood and a puffed silhouette.
—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
Meanwhile in Boston, England huffed and puffed but could not blow Ghana away.
—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
Place puffed corn in a large 17x12x2-inch roasting pan.
—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 June 2026
And over the years, an increase in solar activity — space weather from the sun — has puffed up Earth's atmosphere to create more drag on Swift than expected, pulling it down from its initial orbit.
—
Tariq Malik,
Space.com,
19 June 2026
His lips puffed with each breath.
—
Cameron Knight,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
17 June 2026
The Whitaker Group and Adidas also puffed together recently on the BW Army.
—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
In contrast, eating refined grains like white bread, puffed rice, or white rice might increase inflammation and make your joints hurt more.
—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
12 June 2026
The ring of pastry was crisp and impressively puffed, like a peacock’s display of courtship.
—
The Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 June 2026
Vermiculite, a fine, puffed, gold flecks mica, which helps with drainage.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffed
Adjective
-
When fluid pools in tissue instead of draining, the results can include facial puffiness, swollen limbs, bloating and a general heavy or fatigued feeling.
-
Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will not develop symptoms, but those who do may experience a mild form of the illness, which can include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands or a rash, according to the IDOH.
Verb
-
By the time many of these rising talents were accruing debt in graduate writing programs, the dream of a sustainable career in the nonprofit theater had already gasped its last breath.
-
The crowd of 39,077 at Citi Field gasped and even applauded some when the replay was shown on the large videoboard in center.
Verb
-
As Guo left the courtroom after the sentencing, supporters applauded and shouted toward him.
-
The American Principles Project, a right-wing advocacy group that has helped states draft laws to restrict transgender rights, applauded Tuesday’s ruling.
Verb
-
Pet owners spoke reassuringly to their dogs, who panted and pawed their owners, and to their mewing cats.
-
On one of the machines a Cluely employee panted and huffed in the dark.
Verb
-
But Argentina’s talisman stroked it wide of the net.
-
Mihyia Davis stroked the next pitch off Slimp’s glove in left for a double and Williams moved to third.
Verb
-
The State Department on Tuesday congratulated conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori after she was declared the winner of Peru’s presidential runoff election by a razor-thin margin.
-
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe congratulated all the teams on Sunday.
Verb
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The coalition of groups associated with the lawsuit praised the ruling.
-
Cue also praised Apple’s studio chiefs, Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg.
Verb
-
Donning a loud orange and curly wig, Tel commended KC for its hospitality as a host city.
-
As free press advocates rail against the privacy act lawsuit, Fox News commended the stay in a statement shared with The Guardian.
Cite this Entry
“Puffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffed. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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