swollen

adjective

Definition of swollennext
as in blown
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure a swollen ankle from a sprain

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 swollen Upon arrival, police found 37-year-old Destiny Dunn deceased with bruises on her body, including her neck and face, and her eyelids were swollen and discolored, according to court documents. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 15 Aug. 2026 So is a swollen lymph node on the same side of your body as the scratch, which can signal cat-scratch disease, a bacterial infection most common in kids. — Angela Haupt, Time, 12 Aug. 2026 Photos show her with red, swollen eyelids at different stages of the allergic reaction. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026 The annual monsoon season frequently triggers flooding in Assam, where swollen rivers inundate large areas and displace thousands of residents each year. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 The department urged residents to seek medical care immediately if a wound exposed to brackish or salt water becomes red, swollen, painful, warm or discolored, and to tell their health care provider about the water exposure. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026 Side effects included injection-site reactions such as pain, tenderness and swollen lymph nodes; fatigue; headache; muscle or joint pain; nausea or vomiting; and fever. — Elise Haulund, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 Those symptoms vary depending on where and how the infection is, but typical symptoms include skin - or other - ulcers and swollen lymph nodes. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 Four days later, the area around one bite on her calf became swollen and painful, prompting her to seek medical care, FOX Kansas reported. — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swollen
  1. distended
  2. puffed
Adjective
  • Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended.
    — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026
  • The distended episodes were littered with what feels like filler, little of which offered much in the way of narrative value.
    — Emma Flint, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
Definition of distended
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
Definition of puffed

Browse Nearby Words

swivets
swollen
swoon
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on swollen

Nglish: Translation of swollen for Spanish Speakers

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