as in expanded
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in increased
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the number of students who stay home sick balloons every winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in protruded
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the paper bag ballooned and blew away as the wind lifted it skyward
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ballooned
Natasha Turak, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2025
Since the program's launch, the administration's focus on campus speech and policy has only ballooned, placing schools' federal funds and contracts at risk of termination and university administration and students in the center of high-stakes political crosshairs.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025
The lack of availability in the private market has left many homeowners to fend for themselves, while the state's fire insurer of last resort, the California FAIR Plan, has ballooned in size.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
The dispute over the proxy voting matter had ballooned into a full-fledged rebellion last week.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025
In 2021, after years of reports that untested rape kits collected from victims had ballooned into the thousands, District Attorney Summer Stephen announced that much of the backlog had been eliminated.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
That 31-28 Houston edge ballooned to 42-30 in less than four minutes.
—Bob Harkins, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Now, their population has ballooned to at least 84 individuals—and counting.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Apr. 2025
In return, the state agreed to allow the company to recoup from ratepayers the cost of the plant, which had ballooned to almost six billion dollars (roughly fifteen billion dollars in today’s money).
—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
Spending by the kingdom has ballooned due to Vision 2030, a sweeping campaign to transform the Saudi economy and diversify its revenue streams away from hydrocarbons.
—Natasha Turak, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2025
Since the program's launch, the administration's focus on campus speech and policy has only ballooned, placing schools' federal funds and contracts at risk of termination and university administration and students in the center of high-stakes political crosshairs.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 9 Apr. 2025
The lack of availability in the private market has left many homeowners to fend for themselves, while the state's fire insurer of last resort, the California FAIR Plan, has ballooned in size.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
The dispute over the proxy voting matter had ballooned into a full-fledged rebellion last week.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025
In 2021, after years of reports that untested rape kits collected from victims had ballooned into the thousands, District Attorney Summer Stephen announced that much of the backlog had been eliminated.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
That 31-28 Houston edge ballooned to 42-30 in less than four minutes.
—Bob Harkins, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Now, their population has ballooned to at least 84 individuals—and counting.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Apr. 2025
In return, the state agreed to allow the company to recoup from ratepayers the cost of the plant, which had ballooned to almost six billion dollars (roughly fifteen billion dollars in today’s money).
—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Verb
-
The case occurred in a trial that quickly increased the dose of the pill over a short period of time, the spokesperson said.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Instead of service being needed every 3,000 miles, it is expected to be increased to a range of 15,000 to 20,000 miles.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The clip poked fun at photos from the couple's recent cover shoot for Interview magazine.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Chris Kreider poked a puck away from Yegor Chinakhov.—
Peter Baugh,
The Athletic,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In terms of the design, the mix of rose gold and rhodium plating on the dial brings an industrial feel to the timepieces.—
Sophie Furley,
Robb Report,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Novo Nordisk’s Fundamentals Over Recent Years Novo Nordisk’s revenue rose over 2x from 127 billion DKK in 2020 to 271 billion DKK for the last twelve-month period.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Bloating causes your belly to feel full and look distended.—
Kathleen Felton,
Health,
9 June 2024
-
But for all its brawn and atmosphere and robustly choreographed combat, this is a distended historical tapestry too sprawling to remain compelling, particularly when its focus veers away from the central couple.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
-
But a rebuild can be accelerated a lot with a special player like Haliburton.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The rebuild accelerated after Indiana traded then-two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis, along with Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb to Sacramento for Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson at the 2022 trade deadline.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The White House did note that the tariffs can be expanded.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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Now, the menu has expanded to include items like burgers, chili cheese fries— a favorite for Sikiotis— BLTs, chicken salad and even a few breakfast dishes.—
DeAnna Taylor,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Spending on apparel and electronics also climbed at a solid pace.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
26 Dec. 2024
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In the video, Ciara stood in the aisle while her kids — Future, Win, Sienna and Amora — climbed on top of her.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
25 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Ballooned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooned. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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