as in to expand
to make or become larger especially because of pressure from inside
The illness can cause the stomach to distend.
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Recent Examples of distend
In the last 20 days, their belly will appear distended, and their nipples and breast tissue will be noticeably swollen.
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Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
The fear grew when her 1-year-old boy's belly started to distend and his ribs were pressed against his skin.
—Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Oct. 2025
The effect is to both collapse and distend time until all the souls in the book, most of them nameless anyway, exist at the same time, in the same place, forever.
—Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2025
The pup’s abdomen was firm and distended.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
The Most Exciting New Advances in Managing COPD With another strategy, diaphragmatic breathing, patients concentrate on distending their abdomen while taking in air.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
Abdominal bloating is when the stomach feels full of gas and may become distended (sticks out).
—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 14 Sep. 2024
Isaiah was also malnourished and dehydrated at the time of his death, with his small and large intestines markedly distended.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distend
Verb
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Flywing also plans to expand the competitive side of the platform.—
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Neutrality allowed the nation to build strength, expand westward, and avoid the ideological contagions sweeping the continent.—
Verb
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But the longstanding regime’s grasp on power now appears more tenuous than ever as the swelling opposition movement demands substantive change.—
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Tensions mount in Minneapolis Hundreds of people took to the streets of Minneapolis to protest within hours of Good’s death and demonstrations have continued to swell in the ensuing days.—
Verb
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The committee approved Lucas’s amendment and approved the recommendation to increase funding for the temporary jail.—
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Iwobi’s movement drags Ladislav Krejci wider, increasing the space between the lines and creating a clear passing angle for Calvin Bassey.—
Verb
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Pomegranates are rich in polyphenols, which may dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure.—
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Heat applied to the body tends to dilate blood vessels, which improves blood flow, according to Highett Podiatry.—
Cite this Entry
“Distend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distend. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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