as in swollen
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure
her eyelid was so puffed she couldn't see with that eye
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of puffed
Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
The look featured a hood and a puffed silhouette.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Bake until puffed and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
Cover and let rise in a warm place until puffed and almost double in size (about 1 hour).
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2025
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Accentuating her features with her signature brown smoky eyeshadow, matte mauve lipstick, and a pink flush on her cheekbones, Kylie puffed on a cigarette and gazed into the camera’s lens as the shot faded to black.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the biscuits are puffed and the bottoms are golden brown.
—Hailee Catalano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Jan. 2026
Joey McGuire pulled Morton toward him and whispered something to his quarterback, who then puffed his chest and went forward with the postgame conference.
—Ty Kaplan, Dallas Morning News, 1 Jan. 2026
His cheeks puffed and his eyes crossed.
—Emilia Petrarca, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
In addition to its V-neck design and button-down silhouette, the sweater also has a collar and puffed sleeves for a dressier look.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
By way of reply, the kid puffed up his chest and smiled shyly.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Bake until center is puffed and golden, 40 to 45 minutes.
—Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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
Bake until puffed and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
Cover and let rise in a warm place until puffed and almost double in size (about 1 hour).
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Loosely cover using plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm place (75°F) until puffed and nearly doubled in size, 45 to 60 minutes.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Feb. 2026
Accentuating her features with her signature brown smoky eyeshadow, matte mauve lipstick, and a pink flush on her cheekbones, Kylie puffed on a cigarette and gazed into the camera’s lens as the shot faded to black.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the biscuits are puffed and the bottoms are golden brown.
—Hailee Catalano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Jan. 2026
Joey McGuire pulled Morton toward him and whispered something to his quarterback, who then puffed his chest and went forward with the postgame conference.
—Ty Kaplan, Dallas Morning News, 1 Jan. 2026
His cheeks puffed and his eyes crossed.
—Emilia Petrarca, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
In addition to its V-neck design and button-down silhouette, the sweater also has a collar and puffed sleeves for a dressier look.
—Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
By way of reply, the kid puffed up his chest and smiled shyly.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Bake until center is puffed and golden, 40 to 45 minutes.
—Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffed
Adjective
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Our own Metropolitan Museum displays a copy of that swollen right-hand — cast in bronze for Saint-Gaudens in the 1880s.—
Harold Holzer,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
His face was also red and swollen.—
Erika Stanish,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Thompson gasped loudly as the injection began taking effect, according to The Associated Press, before taking about a dozen breaths that turned into snoring sounds.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
As the injection began taking effect, Thompson gasped loudly, then took about a dozen breaths that evolved into three snores.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Roberts applauded the growing social justice movement coming out of the files release and called for a criminal investigation of Mountbatten-Windsor.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Video shows most lawmakers in the room applauded the line.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Influenced by her Indian heritage, Japanese craft philosophy, and the traditions of Shetland knitting, her work is highly distinctive and also wholly wearable; David and I stroked scarves, asymmetric wraps, and sweaters with yearning.—
Sarah Moss,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
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Trump’s allies have always stroked his ego to get their way.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Everyone congratulated us for making it here from the Olympic qualification.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Crosetto congratulated the officers on their effective response.—
Sharon Braithwaite,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya has also long praised the game as a powerful teacher of judgement.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The more frugal sides are decried as misers or praised for their market savvy, no matter the surrounding factors.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Catholic leaders commended anyone who continues to work for peace and justice, including those who peacefully assemble, and are caring for their immigrant neighbors.—
Anissa Rivera,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Shapiro commended the strength of the new study.—
Jenna Anderson,
Health,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Myricks then applied it on the back of her hand and evenly massaged the product around the face, focusing on areas with texture or larger pores.—
Essence Wiley,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The other two guys, who are wearing undies when not getting massaged, are giving the lightest and most cursory of touches to either the shoulders or the calves.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffed. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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