as in swollen
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure
her eyelid was so puffed she couldn't see with that eye
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in gasped
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty
he came running up the stairs puffing and wheezing
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in applauded
to praise too much
a talk show host who can be counted on to puff up the celebrities who readily consent to be interviewed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of puffed
Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Bake until puffed and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
Cover and let rise in a warm place until puffed and almost double in size (about 1 hour).
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2025
Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
Elevated by a low heel, the shoes provided a frosty sparkling accent to a light pink dress featuring one puffed sheer long sleeve with ornate embellishment at the cuff.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
Bake in preheated oven, 1 baking sheet at a time, until golden brown and puffed, about 20 minutes.
—Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2025
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges of the cookies are firm and the center is puffed up and wet-looking.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Bake until puffed and set, about 10 to 11 minutes, rotating pans halfway through.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025
For example, this mini dress features puffed sleeves and a wrap skirt with a tie.
—Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
Like so many institutions before it, the museum could have ignored the students, or puffed up some sort of defense.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
He was inspired by folkloric characters from history, like the Slavic Baba Yaga and the Italian Befana, as well as Victorian lady silhouettes, 17th century panniers, puffed sleeves, and harem pants.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The look featured a hood and a puffed silhouette.
—Verb
Bake until center is puffed and golden, 40 to 45 minutes.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffed
Adjective
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This $15 option from Basic Concepts attaches to your tray table, creating a swinging hammock that provides relief for tired, swollen feet.—
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Or noticing that your hands feel inexplicably stiff and swollen, making simple tasks like opening a jar or even typing feel unusually difficult.—
Verb
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In August last year, women gasped in unison nationwide as Hague announced her split from Fury after five years together — and one engagement — via a statement on Instagram.—
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Ripa exclaimed after the audience gasped.—
Verb
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The Indivisible Project, a nonprofit group that led protests against Avelo Airlines, on Thursday applauded the carrier's move to end its contract with DHS.—
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The union representing flight attendants for Avelo applauded the end of the ICE flights.—
Verb
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Influenced by her Indian heritage, Japanese craft philosophy, and the traditions of Shetland knitting, her work is highly distinctive and also wholly wearable; David and I stroked scarves, asymmetric wraps, and sweaters with yearning.—
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Trump’s allies have always stroked his ego to get their way.—
Verb
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Many members of the DWTS fam congratulated the couple, including Julianne Hough, Derek’s sister, and Emma Slater.—
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In November of that year, Rivera congratulated Myha’la on Industry's first-season success.—
Verb
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Special teams coordinator Tracy Smith has also routinely praised Scott’s willingness to do whatever is asked of him.—
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Officials praised the responders and said many of them received specialized water rescue training thanks to a federal grant.—
Verb
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While having tea with Wiggins, Charles commended Chatfield’s treatment and recovery rate.—
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Nikola Jurkovic, a member of technical staff at the influential METR AI research center, commended the paper’s contributions.—
Verb
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Or opt for the Oil Ceremony, where layers of delicately scented oils are massaged into the skin in a soothing ritual.—
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Those of us without earplugs stupidly massaged our jaws, heads tilted, eyelids quivering, listening to overtones through our teeth.—
Cite this Entry
“Puffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffed. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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