bloated; bloating; bloats
1
a
: to make turgid or swollen
b
: to cause abdominal distension in
2
: to fill to capacity or overflowing
1
a
: one that is bloated
b
: unwarranted or excessive growth or enlargement
bureaucratic bloat
2
: digestive disturbance of ruminant animals and especially cattle marked by accumulation of gas in one or more stomach compartments
3
: a condition of large dogs marked by distension and usually life-threatening rotation of the stomach
Examples of bloat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
David Zipper, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Data classification and retention policies are established to manage data privacy and minimize data bloat.
—Chris Stegh, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Lindsay Curtis, Health, 10 Jan. 2025
Some people have a milk intolerance, which may result in digestive symptoms such as gas, abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea after consuming dairy.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Michael Glassner and John Pence, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
These high costs and significant administrative bloat make the healthcare sector prime for disruption and transformation.
—Arianna Huffington, TIME, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bloat 
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.
Adjective
But even that proposal — which did not address other car bloat dangers like blind zones and torso strikes — is likely to be cast aside by incoming Trump appointees who are disinclined toward new business regulations.
—David Zipper, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
Data classification and retention policies are established to manage data privacy and minimize data bloat.
—Chris Stegh, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
Nausea, bloating, or a sore throat is possible after the procedure.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 10 Jan. 2025
Some people have a milk intolerance, which may result in digestive symptoms such as gas, abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea after consuming dairy.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
For decades, the leaders of both parties had tolerated mind-boggling levels of corruption, waste, and administrative bloat, enabling a culture of profligacy that subsidized the federal bureaucracy and crony capitalists at the expense of hard-working American taxpayers.
—Michael Glassner and John Pence, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
These high costs and significant administrative bloat make the healthcare sector prime for disruption and transformation.
—Arianna Huffington, TIME, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bloat
Articles Related to bloat
Dictionary Entries Near bloat
Cite this Entry
“Bloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloat. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
bloat
1 of 2 transitive verb
: to make turgid:
a
: to produce edema in
b
: to cause or result in accumulation of gas in the digestive tract of
cucumbers sometimes bloat me
c
: to cause abdominal distension in
: to become turgid
bloat
2 of 2 noun1
: a digestive disturbance of ruminant animals and especially cattle marked by accumulation of gas in one or more stomach compartments
2
a
: a condition of large dogs marked by distension and usually life-threatening rotation of the stomach
b
: any flatulent digestive disturbance of domestic animals
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share