What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
distended
Example
The distended belly of the starving child was heartbreaking. [distended: adjective]
Example
The balloon was distended with air until it popped. [distended: verb]
swollen
Example
Her ankle was swollen after she sprained it playing soccer. [swollen: adjective]
Example
The river had swollen after the heavy rain. [swollen: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Swollen is more commonly used than distended in everyday language. Swollen is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while distended is less common and typically used in medical or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between distended and swollen?
While distended is typically associated with a formal or technical tone, swollen is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
