inflate

verb

Definition of inflatenext
1
as in to increase
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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2
as in to accelerate
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number Airbags are designed to inflate automatically on impact.

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb inflate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of inflate are amplify, dilate, distend, expand, and swell. While all these words mean "to increase in size or volume," inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

an inflated ego

When is amplify a more appropriate choice than inflate?

While in some cases nearly identical to inflate, amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

amplify the statement with details

When is it sensible to use dilate instead of inflate?

The meanings of dilate and inflate largely overlap; however, dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

dilated pupils

Where would distend be a reasonable alternative to inflate?

Although the words distend and inflate have much in common, distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

a distended abdomen

When might expand be a better fit than inflate?

The synonyms expand and inflate are sometimes interchangeable, but expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (such as growth, unfolding, addition of parts).

a business that expands every year

When could swell be used to replace inflate?

The words swell and inflate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

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 inflate In cities that function as growth machines, where economic growth is prized above all else, the needs of the poor and middle class are eclipsed by the desire to inflate the value of land. —Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025 Responding to student complaints, professors have been slashing homework assignments, routinely extending deadlines and (most prominently) inflating grades. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 Sep. 2025 The singer would enter the ball — or, more accurately, it was inflated around him — and rock it a bit about the stage. —Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2025 Experts warn that countries in a conflict will inflate their enemy's losses. —Ellie Cook — Reporting From Prague, Czech Republic, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inflate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflate
  1. increase
  2. accelerate
  3. raise
  4. expand
  5. rise
  6. balloon
  7. swell
  8. distend
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of increase
Verb
  • In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 rallied 1% after data showed accelerating growth in earnings for Japanese workers.
    — Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
  • 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
Definition of accelerate
Verb
  • The deal, brokered after a standoff between state and county officials resulting from a disagreement over whether to raise assessments this year, means homeowners will see a nearly 7% increase above their 2024 property valuation.
    — Madeline King, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The Bundy family said information about the object removed from Ryan Bundy’s arm could raise more questions in the incident.
    — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of raise
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of expand
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of rise
Verb
  • On Tuesday, the protests ballooned as people of all ages defied curfews and came out into the streets to protest the government’s bloody crackdown.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Friar also called attention to compute constraints caused by ballooning AI demands, which have led the company to go beyond its partnership with Microsoft and reach deals with Oracle, Coreweave and others.
    — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of balloon
Verb
  • 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
  • These reports became a short story and then swelled to something else.
    — Michael Jerome Plunkett September 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of swell
Verb
  • The effect is to both collapse and distend time until all the souls in the book, most of them nameless anyway, exist at the same time, in the same place, forever.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The pup’s abdomen was firm and distended.
    — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of distend

Browse Nearby Words

inflammatory
inflate
inflated
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Cite this Entry

“Inflate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflate. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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