BALLOON Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

balloon

verb

Definition of balloon

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

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 Remaining performance obligations ballooned to $638 billion by fiscal year-end compared to $138 billion last fiscal year. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026 The company’s 150-person workforce has ballooned by 40 percent during that time. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026 Shirts were punctuated by knife pleats that ballooned in the back, while cascading pleats fluttered down the side of skirts. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026 On Wednesday the prince was backed by a whole new set of lock-screen photos and said the number had ballooned. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for balloon

Recent Examples of Synonyms for balloon

Verb

Contributions would increase depending on family size, with a family of four expected to pay $500,000, officials said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Europe in particular appears vulnerable to increasing borrowing costs, with inflation in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain all exceeding analysts’ expectations.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of increase

Verb

Ping Ping, the male, has dark black circles around his eyes, while Fu Shuang, the female, has a forehead that protrudes a bit, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
As has the part where Reacher uses his left paw with two nails protruding from the palm as a makeshift Wolverine/Freddy Krueger stabbin’ hand.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of protrude

Verb

Inflation in India has been rising for 10 straight months, while economic growth has remained strong despite external challenges.

— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Regulatory concerns began to rise, with growing uncertainty that Netflix would be able to close its deal in short order.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of rise

Verb

In the early 2000s, the city authorities stopped the culling of baboon troops in response to public pressure, but that has since swollen the population by a third – to around 500.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
Soft, breathable and moisture-wicking, socks are designed to help improve circulation, reduce swelling and relieve aches and fatigue.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of swell

Verb

Check for dented seams and bulging lids, which can point to food safety issues, recommends Morawetz.

— Embry Roberts, Martha Stewart, 19 Sep. 2026
Her bulging eyes, her piercing shrieks, her casual yet immaculately articulate cruelty all come together to form a cartoonish villain who’s also a commanding delight.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of bulge

Verb

The same architecture can now support another round of measurements from orbit as the constellation expands.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
The episode ultimately reunites Constance with two of her children, Tate and Adelaide (Jamie Brewer), as the season continues to expand its connections to the show’s earlier installments.

— Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of expand

Browse Nearby Words

ball of wax

balloon

ballooned

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balloon. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of balloon

verb

Example Sentences

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