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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of balloon
That's when Kraft ballooned to include Nabisco, Jell-O, Maxwell House and hot-dog maker Oscar Mayer.
—
Alina Selyukh, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
Total rides through the program have ballooned over the past few years — from 21,823 in 2023 to 295,261 in the last fiscal year.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Sep. 2025
Rising mortgage rates have further burdened buyers, with monthly payments ballooning beyond reach for many.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
As Bowyer continued to increase Mizuhara’s credit line, the interpreter’s debt quickly ballooned into the millions, paid down via installments in the form of six-figure wires bearing Ohtani’s name.
—David Amsden, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Alina Selyukh, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025
Total rides through the program have ballooned over the past few years — from 21,823 in 2023 to 295,261 in the last fiscal year.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Sep. 2025
Rising mortgage rates have further burdened buyers, with monthly payments ballooning beyond reach for many.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
As Bowyer continued to increase Mizuhara’s credit line, the interpreter’s debt quickly ballooned into the millions, paid down via installments in the form of six-figure wires bearing Ohtani’s name.
—David Amsden, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balloon
Verb
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Federal Supplement Security Income payments would increase for January but those payments would be made at the end of December.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
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But there is really no reason why this should be the case for Pilates—which consists of different low-impact movements to strengthen your core muscles, increase your flexibility, improve your posture and give you more awareness of your body in general.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sharks are often imagined cruising just beneath the waves, dorsal fin protruding from the dark, ocean waters to alert people of their incoming doom.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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Hammer four nails about an inch apart into a cross shape at the center of your board so that the heads protrude at least an inch.—
Peter Barrett,
Outside,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Set in early-1960s New York City, the film follows a folk song singing Minnesotan with a guitar and a dream, rising from a coffeehouse performer to a counterculture legend.—
Hannah Kerns,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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Gabby Provenzano rose at the near post and powered home a header from point-blank range in the 81st minute, assisted by Sabrina McNeill’s cross off a corner.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Stars not just in front of, but within the dusty nebula, poke through all but the densest gas.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
8 Sep. 2025
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In July 2024, Thompson's daughter Gaia shared a cheeky post on her Instagram Stories poking fun at 2023's Barbie movie's tagline — and Thompson's ex, Kenneth Branagh.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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During livestreams of Timmer’s tornado chases, large audiences swell and follow along in the hunt from the safety of home.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
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These reports became a short story and then swelled to something else.—
Michael Jerome Plunkett
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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De Meo has been tasked with engineering a speedy turnaround for Kering, which has been dragged down by steep declines at its star brand Gucci and a bulging debt load.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
9 Sep. 2025
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To be a real man, according to this content, young adolescent boys are expected to be tall and broad-shouldered with bulging biceps, pronounced trapezius muscles, and washboard abs.—
Ashleigh N. DeLuca,
Parents,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rallied 1% after data showed accelerating growth in earnings for Japanese workers.—
Stan Choe,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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Google and Meta on Friday announced new partnerships with Reliance Industries as the Indian conglomerate seeks to accelerate its push into artificial intelligence.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Unrivaled Experiences Growth Spurt Unrivaled will expand ahead of its second season with the addition of two new clubs and a development player pool, the league announced Wednesday.—
Roberta F. Rodrigues,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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The panel issued over 100 recommendations, from limiting cash bail for misdemeanors to expanding racial equity training for prosecutors.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balloon. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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