1
as in increases
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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2
as in accelerates
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
Airbags are designed to inflate automatically on impact.
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Recent Examples of inflates
In order to minimize rider impact with the handlebars or other hard surfaces, the airbag inflates upward during a forward crash.
—
New Atlas, 24 Mar. 2026
Students that are assigned a teacher that inflates grades are more likely to score poorly on future tests.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Their croaking involves pushing air over vocal cords into a thin membrane known as a vocal sac that inflates under the chin.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
An avalanche airbag backpack that inflates after the skier pulls the trigger giving the person a chance to stay above or close to the surface during an avalanche.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
This practice artificially inflates prices and prevents everyday Texans from outbidding Wall Street.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Now, rather than invest in more powerful and more expensive technologies, some scientists are using an alternative technique called expansion microscopy, which inflates the subject using the same moisture-absorbing material found in diapers.
—Molly Herring, Quanta Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
The same metric that inflates benefits in some regulatory contexts, understates them in others.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
When American companies are forced to rely on equipment that is slower, smaller and less seaworthy because federal policy artificially inflates ship prices, the resulting delays, losses and failures should come as no surprise.
—Colin Grabow, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
New Atlas, 24 Mar. 2026
Students that are assigned a teacher that inflates grades are more likely to score poorly on future tests.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Their croaking involves pushing air over vocal cords into a thin membrane known as a vocal sac that inflates under the chin.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
An avalanche airbag backpack that inflates after the skier pulls the trigger giving the person a chance to stay above or close to the surface during an avalanche.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
This practice artificially inflates prices and prevents everyday Texans from outbidding Wall Street.
—Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Now, rather than invest in more powerful and more expensive technologies, some scientists are using an alternative technique called expansion microscopy, which inflates the subject using the same moisture-absorbing material found in diapers.
—Molly Herring, Quanta Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
The same metric that inflates benefits in some regulatory contexts, understates them in others.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
When American companies are forced to rely on equipment that is slower, smaller and less seaworthy because federal policy artificially inflates ship prices, the resulting delays, losses and failures should come as no surprise.
—Colin Grabow, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inflates
Verb
-
The translunar injection involves firing Orion's main engine, which increases the spacecraft's velocity to send it out of Earth orbit and toward the moon.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
With warmer weather heralding spring, the amount of outdoor activities significantly increases.—
Lesly Gregory,
AJC.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What Happens Next Attention will now turn to labor negotiations, political response, and whether the transition timeline accelerates.—
Sam Stevenson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
When you’re fully submerged in the culture of your field’s epicenter, learning accelerates.—
Bill Gurley,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When working, pick tools that feel good to use, and pay attention to how your schedule raises or lowers stress.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Warm water raises skin temperature, and the core temperature drop after stepping out signals the brain to release melatonin.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Drone delivery expands across the Charlotte region The Queen City is no stranger to drone deliveries.—
Chase Jordan
March 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The find helps explain water’s odd behavior and its unusual properties, including the reason ice cubes float and how liquid water expands as its temperature drops below 39 degrees Fahrenheit (four degrees Celsius).—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That was expected to be the last remaining obstacle to the world's biggest sporting event arriving in this 20,000-person suburb tucked between Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, that swells to three times its size for New England Patriots games.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The noise of your life recedes and a surge of connectedness and gratitude swells inside of you.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Inflates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inflates. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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