inflated

Etymology

adj

1. Filled with air or fluid
   The inflated balloons danced in the breeze.
2. Expanded; in a state of inflation, of abnormally increased size, amount, etc.
   His inflated belly looked uncomfortable.
3. (economics): In a state of higher cost.
   His inflated prices made the vendor unpopular.
   Apprenticeship programmes supply the industry with an ongoing cohort of qualified talent. It is much cheaper to train new people than to pay inflated wages to attract existing talent. Apprenticeships are also a useful way of teaching the practical, hands-on skills that the modern railway needs. March 8 2023, Neil Robertson, “Tackling the skills shortage”, in RAIL, number 978, page 33
4. (figurative) Pompous; arrogant (of a person or ego)
5. (figurative) Containing excessive, meaningless words, particularly for show
   The inflated speech did not impress the audience.
6. Higher that the true figure
   inflated incidence figures

verb

1. simple past and past participle of inflate