Tumesce is a seldom-used word that means to become swollen or to expand. Some possible synonyms for tumesce include enlarge, inflate, distend, swell, bulge, dilate, and expand. Each of these words describes a physical process of expanding or becoming larger, and can be used to convey the same meaning as tumesce. For example, one might describe a balloon that has been inflated as having tumesced, or a muscle that has swollen after exercise as having enlarged. Despite its infrequent use, tumesce is a useful word for describing a variety of physical processes, and its synonyms offer a range of options for expressing similar ideas.