Recurring crossword clue · multiple possible answers

Inflated crossword clue

Editorially reviewed August 20, 2026

Best starting answer

Start with SWOLLEN or BLOATED for seven letters when the clue describes physical expansion, PUFFED for six letters when air or pride is involved, and OVERBLOWN for nine letters when a claim, reputation, or style is exaggerated.

Inflated answers by length

The correct fill depends on the number of squares, crossing letters, and the sense intended by the setter.

4 letters

HIGHRaised or excessive, especially when describing a price, cost, or estimate.

5 letters

PUFFYSwollen, soft, or visibly enlarged as if filled with air or fluid.

TUMIDSwollen or distended, and figuratively bombastic in style.

HYPEDPromoted or praised beyond a realistic level of importance.

6 letters

PUFFEDFilled or expanded with air, or made proud and self-important.

TURGIDSwollen or distended, or pompously elaborate in language.

RAISEDIncreased to a higher amount, level, price, or position.

PADDEDArtificially increased by adding unnecessary or misleading amounts.

7 letters

SWOLLENEnlarged beyond normal size through pressure, fluid, or expansion.

BLOATEDUnnaturally swollen or made excessively large and cumbersome.

POMPOUSSelf-important or affectedly grand in manner, language, or style.

8 letters

EXPANDEDMade larger in size, volume, scope, or amount.

ELEVATEDRaised above a normal, expected, or appropriate level.

ENLARGEDMade or grown larger than the original or usual size.

9 letters

DISTENDEDStretched outward by internal pressure, swelling, or contents.

BALLOONEDExpanded rapidly or swelled outward like a balloon.

OVERBLOWNExaggerated, excessively grand, or made more important than justified.

GRANDIOSEPompously impressive or unrealistically ambitious and inflated.

10 letters

OVERSTATEDExpressed too strongly or represented as greater than the facts support.

OVERPRICEDGiven a price higher than its fair or reasonable value.

11 letters

EXAGGERATEDEnlarged or represented beyond truth, normal proportion, or reasonable limits.

Meanings to check

Filled, expanded, or distended by air, gas, liquid, or internal pressure.
Swollen, bloated, puffy, or enlarged beyond a normal physical size.
Raised beyond a fair or realistic level, especially prices, costs, numbers, or estimates.
Exaggerated, overstated, padded, hyped, or made to seem more important than it is.
Pompous, grandiose, turgid, or overblown in language, style, reputation, or ego.

Common Inflated clue variants

inflated with air crossword clue

Air or pressure wording points to literal expansion; answer length separates something puffed from something expanded, distended, or ballooned.

PUFFED6 lettersEXPANDED8 lettersDISTENDED9 lettersBALLOONED9 letters

inflated prices crossword clue

Price and cost context means raised beyond a normal or fair level rather than physically swollen or filled with air.

HIGH4 lettersRAISED6 lettersELEVATED8 lettersOVERPRICED10 letters

inflated figures crossword clue

Figures, totals, and estimates usually indicate artificial enlargement or exaggeration, often by padding or overstating the number.

HYPED5 lettersPADDED6 lettersOVERSTATED10 lettersEXAGGERATED11 letters

inflated language crossword clue

Language or style context calls for an adjective meaning pompously elaborate, excessively grand, or exaggerated in expression.

TUMID5 lettersTURGID6 lettersPOMPOUS7 lettersOVERBLOWN9 lettersGRANDIOSE9 letters