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

After years of campus backlash and administrative crackdowns, fraternity membership has swelled this decade, as students have flocked to schools with big sports and robust social scenes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

In 2023, one of the wettest years in decades, the San Joaquin swelled to four miles wide at the site.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

But then she and a friend decided to stay for the Mass as the crowd swelled around her.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

Two days later, the Dikhow and Mitong spilled into surrounding areas as the Brahmaputra and its tributaries swelled rapidly.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

The numbers swelled: in 1944 alone, nearly 500,000 men, women, and children were transported to Auschwitz.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee