inflated 1 of 2

adjective

in-ˈflā-təd How to pronounce inflated (audio)
Definition of inflatednext
as in exaggerated
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds he's been walking around with an inflated ego every since he got the promotion

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

inflated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of inflate
1
as in increased
to make greater in size, amount, or number Check that you have inflated your tires to the recommended pressure. Some sellers were inflating their prices by as much as 500 per cent.

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in accelerated
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number Airbags are designed to inflate automatically on impact.

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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 inflated
Adjective
As shoppers navigate an increasingly inflated economy, the cost of a great pair of jeans has climbed alongside it, with premium denim often reaching into the hundreds. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 6 Aug. 2026 Hundreds of thousands of property and business owners saw their assessed values raised by more than 15% either in 2023 or 2025, leading to inflated property tax bills that many have called unreasonable or unfair. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
The Social Security Administration's Quick Calculator gives estimates for three different retirement ages, in today's dollars or inflated for future dollars. — Brian Sloan, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 The indictment alleged Cacioppo sent invoices to a Rockhurst University employee for demolition and asbestos abatement work that inflated costs or billed for work that was never done. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for inflated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflated
  1. exaggerated
  2. increased
  3. accelerated
  4. expanded
  5. ballooned
  6. swelled
  7. distended
  8. rose
Adjective
  • The contests appear to be designed for virality, with young competitors often demonstrating exaggerated versions of popular TikTok dance moves for the audience.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Slightly exaggerated hips added further dimension to Raye’s jazzy, lady in blue look.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of exaggerated
Verb
  • The entry of streaming services such as Amazon, Apple and Netflix have only increased the rights fees.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Russell won Saturday's sprint at Zandvoort but Antonelli still increased his standings lead to 53 points despite placing fourth.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of increased
Verb
  • Since that time, calls for self-sufficiency in blood products have grown louder among industry stakeholders, academics, and political advisers – and efforts to address the plasma shortfalls have accelerated.
    — CNN Staff, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Last summer’s One Big Beautiful Bill accelerated the end of several clean-energy tax credits, including a $7,500 credit for buying an EV.
    — Razak Diallo, Baltimore Sun, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of accelerated
Verb
  • Approximately 1,000 homes were threatened, and evacuations have expanded, according to an earlier update from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.
    — Jenna Harrison, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have expanded such routes to export their oil via ports in the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of expanded
Verb
  • The tab has been growing more swiftly in recent years; interest payments on the debt have ballooned as interest rates and borrowing have risen; and all this is happening in relatively good economic times.
    — Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The ballroom construction was originally expected to cost $200 million, then the price ballooned to $400 million, and the total construction cost was later estimated at $600 million.
    — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of ballooned
Verb
  • Ada County has swelled by around 19% since 2020, adding close to 95,000 people, according to estimates from Compass Idaho.
    — CJ Haddad,Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
  • For example, in October of last year, the chip giant Nvidia swelled to become the first $5 trillion company on the mere possibility that some quantitative leap in AI’s abilities could emerge.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of swelled
Verb
  • But the groaning synthesizer underneath her bashful smile tells you something is off — a crystalline tone now distended, unnerving.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
  • Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended.
    — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026
Definition of distended
Verb
  • Long-term Treasury yields rose to their highest point since 2007, creating another headwind for the economy and lifting borrowing costs for consumers and businesses.
    — David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 19 Aug. 2026
  • As for metal, solid gold, whether yellow, white, or rose, remains the steadiest choice, aging with grace and holding its value across the years.
    — Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of rose

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Cite this Entry

“Inflated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflated. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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