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as in exaggeration
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts
that feature writer is sometimes guilty of padding, since his stories often contain colorful details that can't be verified
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in exaggerating
to add to the interest of by including made-up details
the journalist was fired for padding certain stories to make them more interesting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in walking
to go on foot
a cat padded silently by
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of padding
Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
The mules have a short, 8-millimeter heel that has extra padding for maximum support and comes in four neutral shades.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
John Liu, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Egyptian immigrants Azzam and Samra Ahmed are padding their savings by performing for bots in their one-bedroom apartment in Pasadena.
—Nilesh Christopher Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for padding
Noun
The plush padding inside keeps your feet secure and snug no matter where the day takes you, while the suede-leather duo offers a striking look while running daily errands.
—Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
The mules have a short, 8-millimeter heel that has extra padding for maximum support and comes in four neutral shades.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested lifting sanctions on Iranian oil already at sea in a bid to lower oil prices – which might mean padding the war chest of a US enemy.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Egyptian immigrants Azzam and Samra Ahmed are padding their savings by performing for bots in their one-bedroom apartment in Pasadena.
—Nilesh Christopher Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for padding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for padding
Noun
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The result is a more filling, comforting bowl with minimal effort.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
29 Apr. 2026
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Potato flautas, a vegetarian dish with fresh avocado, cotija cheese and a guajillo chile salsa were also well executed, but unfortunately bland, with those mashed potatoes in the filling needing more salt.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Williams, of course, worked at NBC for nearly three decades, including an 11-year run at NBC Nightly News that ended 2015 after exaggerations and falsehoods were found in some of his reporting, including reports from Iraq, and from New Orleans after it had been ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
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The novel reads, in retrospect, less like exaggeration than reportage from inside a culture already learning to treat life as publicity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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There are soaring layers of harmony vocals, a glistening 12-string-guitar part, driving drum fills that speed the song forward.—
Jack Hamilton,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
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The blue fill is also a nice marker for anyone who has more than one adjustable pillow and has to keep track of the extras.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Day sessions usually include something energizing like yoga or mat Pilates, while evenings offer stretching and meditation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
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Actor and producer Vidyut Jammwal will play the noble — and limb-stretching — Dhalsim in the upcoming Street Fighter adaptation.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Those assessments would then inform the packing used to transport the uranium.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
23 Apr. 2026
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Even under the most efficient packing arrangement, there will be gaps between neighboring spheres.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The ballroom includes a military bunker as part of its national security enhancements, and has been under construction for months, but faces legal hurdles.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Apr. 2026
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Before the enhancements, only about 50 acres of the island had been developed.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Pair tall plants in the back, medium fillers in the middle and trailing varieties tumbling out front for instant garden depth.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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At 4 to 10 inches tall and wide, violas are a perfect filler plant.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In another gallery, Joe Overstreet’s The New Jemima reimagines a racist caricature as a bold, satirical portrait of power, its bright colors dominating the quiet space.—
Carrie Honaker,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Apr. 2026
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The other women in the friends’ lives — primarily their mothers — don’t fare much better and are reduced to near-caricatures.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Padding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/padding. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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