puffed 1 of 2

adjective

as in swollen
enlarged beyond normal from internal pressure her eyelid was so puffed she couldn't see with that eye

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

puffed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of puff
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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of puffed
Adjective
Cover pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer, checking occasionally to make sure water isn’t boiling too rapidly, until matzo balls are very puffed and light in color, 30–40 minutes. — Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026 Bake, 1 baking sheet at a time, in preheated oven until slightly puffed and golden brown, about 12 minutes. — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026 Bake until puffed and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026 The restaurant serves both traditional pancakes and a German-style pancake baked until puffed and golden, a menu item that has helped set it apart over the decades. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026 The look featured a hood and a puffed silhouette. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
Bake in preheated oven, rotating pans from top to bottom halfway through, until danishes are puffed and deep golden brown, 12-15 minutes. — Torie Cox, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026 Bake pâte à choux side by side until golden brown and puffed, 32–35 minutes. — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026 The silk taffeta dress was specially woven and dyed ivory and featured a ruffled collar, puffed sleeves, voluminous skirt and, perhaps most notably, a dramatic 25-foot train and 153-yard tulle veil. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 Bake until cakes are golden and puffed and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 30 minutes, rotating pans halfway through. — Martha Stewart, 27 July 2026 Sleeves continue to dominate the trend cycle, and blouses with balloon or puffed sleeves go particularly well with granny jeans. — René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 17 July 2026 Featuring a delicate lace trim, a V-neckline, buttons up the front, and lightly puffed sleeves, this top is beyond gorgeous. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026 Meanwhile in Boston, England huffed and puffed but could not blow Ghana away. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 24 June 2026 Place puffed corn in a large 17x12x2-inch roasting pan. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffed
  1. swollen
  2. gasped
  3. applauded
  4. panted
  5. stroked
  6. congratulated
  7. praised
  8. commended
Adjective
  • Gen, forgetting her swollen wrist, perks up at the thought of having a new person to ruin sheets with.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
  • If a battery is swollen, leaking, unusually hot or has an odor, the battery may be damaged and could start a fire, Sylvia said.
    — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of swollen
Verb
  • Some of the more than 100 in attendance in the council chambers gasped or laughed when the town revealed that the fines have only amounted to $1,600 so far.
    — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The defense struggled a bit in the first half with the reserves on the field even after producing a second-quarter interception, and the offense also gasped and wheezed with the reserves on the field.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of gasped
Verb
  • The transformation of the Madison plant was also applauded by the Rockingham County Board of Commissioners and Madison Mayor William Phillips.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026
  • His return was widely applauded by fans years after he was dropped for reasons that were never publicly explained either to him or to viewers.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of applauded
Verb
  • Pet owners spoke reassuringly to their dogs, who panted and pawed their owners, and to their mewing cats.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026
  • On one of the machines a Cluely employee panted and huffed in the dark.
    — Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Definition of panted
Verb
  • But Kim stroked a walk-off single into left field in the ninth inning off Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott to give the Atlanta Braves a 6-5 victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday night.
    — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Afterwards, as Cheogyal puts it, the spiritual leader stroked his head with compassion.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of stroked
Verb
  • In a statement sent to Variety in March, Parton congratulated Cyrus on the anniversary special.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In the comments, fans congratulated Aly on her Broadway debut while others shared their disappointment over not being able to see the duo live.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of congratulated
Verb
  • Conor Fitzpatrick, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which brought the lawsuit, praised the ruling.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The girls’ mother, Stephanie Soares, praised Legaspi and Feir for helping to motivate her daughters, as Naya has adjusted to using her prosthetic foot and Milayna has spent time outside of her wheelchair for the first time in her life.
    — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of praised
Verb
  • The music department, as well as Courcol’s lively directing and writing, must be commended for scenes of the brass ensemble playing and rehearsing, in a constantly dynamic interaction with dialogue.
    — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Lyne commended the Chicago actor specifically for a scene partway into the movie, when Lane’s Connie is deep into her affair but Gere’s Edward only has vague suspicions.
    — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of commended

Browse Nearby Words

puff adders
puffed
puffed (up)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Puffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffed. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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