puffed 1 of 2

adjective

as in swollen
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure her eyelid was so puffed she couldn't see with that eye

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

puffed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of puff
1
as in gasped
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty he came running up the stairs puffing and wheezing

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in applauded
to praise too much a talk show host who can be counted on to puff up the celebrities who readily consent to be interviewed

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 puffed
Adjective
Bake pancake until puffed and brown around edges, 20–25 minutes. — Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026 Re-cover and let the dough rise again in a warm spot until puffed and some bubbles have formed, about 1 hour. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026 Bake, 1 baking sheet at a time, in preheated oven until slightly puffed and golden brown, about 12 minutes. — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026 Bake until puffed and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026 The restaurant serves both traditional pancakes and a German-style pancake baked until puffed and golden, a menu item that has helped set it apart over the decades. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026 The look featured a hood and a puffed silhouette. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
Hutch sat with his back against the palm, eyes puffed and closed. — Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026 Uncover and continue baking for 20 to 25 minutes, until the top is puffed and appears dry, and a toothpick inserted into the brownie portion near the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Let rolls sit at room temperature until slightly puffed, about 1 hour. — Hana Asbrink, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026 As his players doused each other with beer and puffed smoke throughout the room, Venable said neither cigars nor champagne are quite his style. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Bake in preheated oven, rotating pans from top to bottom halfway through, until danishes are puffed and deep golden brown, 12-15 minutes. — Torie Cox, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026 The silk taffeta dress was specially woven and dyed ivory and featured a ruffled collar, puffed sleeves, voluminous skirt and, perhaps most notably, a dramatic 25-foot train and 153-yard tulle veil. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffed
  1. swollen
  2. gasped
  3. applauded
  4. panted
  5. stroked
  6. congratulated
  7. praised
  8. commended
Adjective
  • Its symptoms can be more widespread—the whole calf or ankle might become swollen and painful, Moll says.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Bites appear similar to those from mosquitoes and can appear swollen and itchy, with symptoms getting worse if the person is allergic to bedbugs.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of swollen
Verb
  • During the film, audience members both laughed and gasped in horror as the events of OpenAI’s founding and 2023 unraveling were brought to screen.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Same lethal drug, different outcomes After the pentobarbital was administered Wednesday night, Howard took a couple of breaths and gasped, the AP reported, before making snoring sounds that grew quiet within 30 seconds.
    — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of gasped
Verb
  • Analysts applauded Apple for introducing HomeView at a reasonable price given all the component shortages.
    — Kif Leswing,Annie Palmer,Jordan Novet, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Mitchell, who turns 83 next month and was using a walking stick, also posted a short video clip from the ceremony, in which she was applauded by others gathered in the room.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of applauded
Verb
  • Pet owners spoke reassuringly to their dogs, who panted and pawed their owners, and to their mewing cats.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
  • On one of the machines a Cluely employee panted and huffed in the dark.
    — Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Definition of panted
Verb
  • White stroked a 3-pointer and waved his arms over his head to the crowd.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Charli even stroked the bathroom hand dryer — a clever reference to everybody’s favorite scene in Desperately Seeking Susan.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of stroked
Verb
  • Last week, Mancini congratulated Flanagan on his series adaptation of King’s 1974 debut novel.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The French Academy of Sciences, of which Kagan is a member, congratulated the two scientists and expressed its pride in the prize.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of congratulated
Verb
  • Naomi Ackie, who plays the scientist charged with Hagen’s experimental procedure, praised how her co-star shouldered what was a very challenging role.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • At a news conference Friday, police also praised a teacher who threw a cellphone at the gunman, tackled him and fought to take his weapon.
    — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of praised
Verb
  • The family commended investigators for working to solve the case.
    — Elle Meyers, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Several Israeli officials commended the bravery of those on board the plane.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of commended

Browse Nearby Words

puff adders
puffed
puffed (up)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Puffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffed. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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