inflate

This term evokes the image of expansion through internal pressure. In a physical sense, it describes the process of filling a void with gas to create volume or tension, such as in a tire or a balloon. This is a neutral, technical process of expansion. When applied to economics or personal claims, the word takes on a negative or critical connotation. It suggests an artificial or excessive increase that lacks a corresponding increase in actual value. To inflate a resume or a currency implies a distortion of reality, where the perceived size or price exceeds the intrinsic worth.