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

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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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Dissimilar Words
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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Dissimilar Words

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
The employees were among three officials investigated after concerns emerged that municipal contracts had been approved at inflated prices. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 But Puck’s inflated branding has, over time, come to look almost prophetic. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
But the Department of Homeland Security's communication with those states since then indicates the numbers may have been inflated. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026 The circular nature of many financing deals has raised concerns that demand for AI may be artificially inflated. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 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
  • The brothers’ defense lawyers countered that the UK allegations are years old, have not resulted in convictions, and their claims to be wealthy were exaggerated to promote online businesses and to generate attention.
    — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The only-in-New York Scaffold Law adds millions of dollars to every construction project through inflated settlements and insurance costs, much of which is alleged to be driven by fraud and exaggerated claims.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of exaggerated
Verb
  • Additionally, writing longer, more detailed descriptions of concerns (over 100 words) significantly increased response rates.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Overall, the budget increased by $720,000 since September 2025, Korfanta said.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of increased
Verb
  • China accelerated its domestic chipmaking efforts after Washington tightened restrictions on Huawei Technologies in 2020, cutting the company off from TSMC.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Prince was able to free the ATV and accelerated toward the deputy, striking him and knocking him to the ground.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of accelerated
Verb
  • Chinese manufacturers have expanded from areas including etching and deposition into ion implantation, inspection and metrology, according to Goldman.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • His father, Charles, had expanded the New Jersey real estate development business his grandfather, a Polish Holocaust survivor, had begun after starting out as a construction laborer.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of expanded
Verb
  • By Preeti Singh, Bloomberg A California pension’s tiny SpaceX investment has ballooned to about $2 billion, creating a windfall for the portfolio — and an unexpected headache.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Twenty years later in Orlando, that number had ballooned to 35.
    — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of ballooned
Verb
  • In 1950, only about 11% of Mission residents would have been considered Latino, according to the California Migration Museum, but by the 1970s, that number had swelled to nearly half.
    — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The rocks and melted water suddenly swelled the rivers in the valleys below, causing torrents of water that swept buildings, bridges and earth downstream in Tibet and Nepal.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of swelled
Verb
  • 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
  • Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended.
    — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026
Definition of distended
Verb
  • Japan’s 10-year yield reached its highest level since August 1996, while Germany’s benchmark yield rose to a 2011 high.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The Colorado River also rose briefly just upstream from where Bright Angel Creek empties into the river, in response to the sudden influx of water, according to the river gauge on the geologic survey, but quickly adjusted.
    — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 1 Sep. 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 5 Sep. 2026.

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