swelled

VERB

become larger

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accumulate add to balloon bloat bulge enlarge expand fatten grow increase mount rise surge

STRONG

aggravate amplify augment belly billow blister dilate distend enhance extend heighten intensity plump pouch pout protrude puff tumefy uprise

WEAK

be inflated become bloated become distended become swollen fill out grow larger puff up round out well up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abridge decline decrease diminish drop fall lessen lose lower reduce shrink slump

STRONG

compress condense contract curtail shorten

WEAK

concentrate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

swelled

That’s 28 miles as the crow flies, but our route, with a detour for lunch in Cuyama, swelled the journey to more than 100 miles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

As startup valuations swelled, the checks venture-capital firms were asked to write in each successive funding round grew larger.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

As passengers chanted the incantation together, white light flashed through the carriage, and music swelled from the speakers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

However, the firm's net debt also swelled to £18.5bn from £16.8bn as it said it "continued to fund the business through... debt and internally generated cash flows".

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

My throat swelled until it hurt, and tears stung the inside of my nose.

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles