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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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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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
Both developments create concerns among some observers that the companies are overseeing inflated volumes or, at worst, are experiencing wash trading, in which traders collude to buy and sell an asset to create a false sense of economic activity. — Davis Giangiulio,ananya Chetia, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026 And yet, these inflated scores might be worth it simply to see the absolute shock and joy on the pair’s faces when those paddles go up. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
If their tax refund was inflated by claiming tax credits that don't apply to them, the taxpayer had to verify their ID first and then amend a return before any federal income tax refund could be issued. — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 21 Sep. 2026 With its latest invention, Domino’s has taken what would seem like a standard-issue, limited-time offering and inflated it into a statement of identity. — Tim Carman, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 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
  • While her sculptural dress commanded attention with its plunging neckline and exaggerated peplum waist, her shoes provided a sleek, minimalist finish that tied the entire look together.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • While there are men who have been affected — George Brett Olson has been one vocal example — the majority affected seem to be women, whose likenesses are often exaggerated or distorted for the purposes of sexualization.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of exaggerated
Verb
  • She's increased the amount of people in the league office which has helped the overall growth of the WNBA.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Containment on the Bryson fire, which has scorched 147 acres near Encinal Canyon Road since igniting on Thursday, increased to 52% Saturday morning.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of increased
Verb
  • During the demonstration, a Roadster prototype accelerated up a massive curved ramp.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The sell-off accelerated Wednesday after hotter-than-expected consumer inflation data raised concerns that the Federal Reserve could keep interest rates elevated for longer.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of accelerated
Verb
  • Trump has vastly expanded ICE to ramp up deportations of immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, and the agency was a major part of last year’s law-enforcement surge in the Chicago area known as Operation Midway Blitz.
    — Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Open Doors Foundation, which began operations in 2025 and quickly expanded before running into zoning and code issues at multiple properties this year, has sought to remain open at 3221 Independence Avenue, its original location.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of expanded
Verb
  • The 18 dates announced at the start of last week has now ballooned to 26, and stretches into November 2027, with additional shows locked in for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
    — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Unsurprisingly, this has ballooned into a national story with teammates and opponents staging protests.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of ballooned
Verb
  • The ranks of the protesters have also swelled to include some more opportunistic looters and agitators.
    — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Piper Sandler’s annual teen survey — polling 9,000 teens across 47 states — shows overall beauty spend swelled 7 percent this year, with growth across all key categories, including cosmetics, skin care, hair and fragrance.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of swelled
Verb
  • Films today tend to err on the side of length in a way that can feel like fiction being distended.
    — Elissa Suh, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of distended
Verb
  • His family, like many Lebanese Jews, left as anti-Jewish sentiment rose after the 1967 war between Israel and Arab countries.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Then mines started to close and unemployment rose, and its owner, an elderly Italian named Netta Cavalli, was beaten in her shop and died soon after.
    — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 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 22 Oct. 2026.

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