balloon

verb

Definition of balloonnext
1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number the number of students who stay home sick balloons every winter

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point the paper bag ballooned and blew away as the wind lifted it skyward

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of balloon The following year, that number ballooned to 18, with 14 in Los Angeles County. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Her public profile has continued to balloon at each viral moment. — Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026 After the Fourth of July, the pool was drained for a second time so workers could once again make repairs for the project that has ballooned in cost. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 This tracks, given that production budgets have ballooned in recent years meaning that many more programs fall within this category. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for balloon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balloon
  1. increase
  2. protrude
  3. rise
  4. poke
  5. swell
  6. bulge
  7. accelerate
  8. expand
Verb
  • The kingdom has faced increasing attacks from the Houthis, who also declared a blockade on the al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea on July 20.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Nor would increased options out wide and a central defender, The Athletic revealing earlier this week that a couple of bids have been rejected for Norway international centre-back Henrik Falchener, 23, from that country’s Viking Stavanger.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of increase
Verb
  • Tropical Hibiscus Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), as the name suggests, is native to tropical climates in Asia and produces dramatic, vibrant flowers that can grow up to 6 inches in diameter with protruding stamens.
    — Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Akhenaten, who may have been the boy-king’s father, was depicted in artwork as having wide hips and a protruding belly, which stood out from portraits of other Egyptian royalty.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of protrude
Verb
  • But after the single-component shots came into use, infections there began to rise.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • That was the evening Hilton, who rose to fame in the early 2000s as a celebrity gossip blogger, appeared to engage in self-harm during a livestream.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of rise
Verb
  • Dike was waiting in the middle to poke it home, giving Orlando a 1-0 lead.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But regardless of any lack of confidence in Hamas’ true intentions, in Mladenov’s faith in the ability to verify weapons decommissioning, or indeed Netanyahu’s own willingness to order any troop withdrawals, why poke Trump so publicly in the eye?
    — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • Loose rocks, chunks of concrete and rusted metal are among the items that have emerged as powerful storm swells remove layers of sand along Newport Beach.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Pain, swelling around a joint, and stiffness in the muscles or ligaments around the joint are just some reasons movement may become restricted.
    — RikkiLynn Shields Hannigan, HEALTH, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of swell
Verb
  • Infants may act sluggish or not active, vomit, be unusually fussy, face poor feeding, show a bulging soft spot on the head, or show poor reflexes.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Padmini came in about ten minutes later, carrying a net bag bulging with okra and shiny gourds.
    — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of bulge
Verb
  • The Pole accelerated on the stage’s fourth ascent of the Col d’Eze, but couldn’t open a gap.
    — Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Local residents said some drivers spend hours revving their engines and accelerating modified vehicles along Woodward Avenue.
    — Terell Bailey, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of accelerate
Verb
  • Investors have increasingly scrutinized the chipmaker’s expanding financial ties with major AI customers.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • New business models such as Walmart supercenters, Costco warehouse clubs and Trader Joe’s specialty stores expanded the abundance further.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of expand

Browse Nearby Words

ball of wax
balloon
ballooned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balloon. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on balloon

Nglish: Translation of balloon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about balloon

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