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

While the level of margin debt has swelled to around $1.4 trillion, it’s the rate of growth that is more relevant here.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

As the numbers swelled, pubs ran out of beer and social media feeds became populated by feel-good footage.

From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026

The volume of complaints across Facebook, LinkedIn, and local news desks has swelled rapidly over the past month.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

The European Central Bank raised its key interest rate by a quarter-point last week as inflation swelled after the war outbreak.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

“This, sir, was purple: the lips were swelled and dark; the brow furrowed: the black eyebrows widely raised over the bloodshot eyes. Shall I tell you of what it reminded me?”

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë