swell 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of swellnext
1
as in great
of the very best kind what a swell time we had at the country club dance

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in happening
being in the latest or current fashion in its heyday as a summer resort, the town was known for its swanky hotels and swell restaurants

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

swell

2 of 3

verb

ˈswel How to pronounce swell (audio)
1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number the club membership has really swelled in recent months

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to expand
to make greater in size, amount, or number more layoffs will swell the ranks of the unemployed to unprecedented levels

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point at that point the Congo River swells and forms Malebo Pool

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

swell

3 of 3

noun

1
as in projection
a part that sticks out from the general mass of something the graceful swell of the bottle was meant to be evocative of the female figure

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wave
a moving ridge on the surface of water huge swells overwhelmed the tiny craft

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb swell differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of swell are amplify, dilate, distend, expand, and inflate. While all these words mean "to increase in size or volume," swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

In what contexts can amplify take the place of swell?

The synonyms amplify and swell are sometimes interchangeable, but amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

amplify the statement with details

When might dilate be a better fit than swell?

While the synonyms dilate and swell are close in meaning, dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

dilated pupils

When could distend be used to replace swell?

The words distend and swell are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

a distended abdomen

When would expand be a good substitute for swell?

Although the words expand and swell have much in common, expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (such as growth, unfolding, addition of parts).

a business that expands every year

When is it sensible to use inflate instead of swell?

While in some cases nearly identical to swell, inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

an inflated ego

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of swell
Adjective
Why do our ankles swell when they’re sprained or does our skin turn red — or inflamed — when it’s scraped? —Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 4 Mar. 2025 Westerly swell then increasing to 10 to 11 feet with swell periods 17 seconds resulting in breakers up to 19 feet from Saturday morning through Monday evening. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
The protests have swelled to include students, teachers and farmers in a major challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic, a populist in power for 12 years as prime minister or president. —Reuters, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2025 Re-entering, Marsalis starts out playing gentle, aqueous phrases, then steadily crescendoes to a piercing intensity for the final theme statement, the band swelling to match him as his tone grows ever more urgent. —Hank Shteamer, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
The outage occurred during a violent storm on the surface, which caused the ship to rapidly drift in the swells and drag the bell with it. —Megan McCluskey, TIME, 1 Mar. 2025 The body was subtly but significantly massaged, adding new curves and muscular swells to the Virage’s boxy lines — all coming together at a front fascia worthy of the automotive brawler the Vantage was. —Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 30 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swell
  1. great
  2. happening
  3. increase
  4. expand
  5. protrude
  6. projection
  7. wave
  8. excellent
Adjective
  • Temu and Shein have taken steps to grow their operations in the U.S. as the de minimis loophole has come under greater scrutiny.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
  • This assignment begins with secondary and higher educational institutions taking greater strides to enrich offerings civics instruction.
    — Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of great
Adjective
  • While the overarching trend for fall is still lowest maintenance possible, there's a bit more happening than your typical sunny blondes and balayage brunettes.
    — Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 2 Sep. 2020
  • What was once a sleepy college town next to a railroad stop is now one of the most happening cities in the state of Texas.
    — Craig Hlavaty, Houston Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2018
Definition of happening
Verb
  • That reticence could conceivably involve suppressing concerns about how the U.S. military’s increasing involvement in domestic missions is placing strains on resources and readiness.
    — Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Insufficient protein intake accelerates sarcopenia, or muscle wasting, which in turn increases vulnerability to illness, injury, and functional decline.
    — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of increase
Verb
  • In this slice-of-life portrait, Chen shows how childhood experiences can shape someone, illustrating how a childhood passion might expand their horizons without necessarily becoming a lifelong vocation.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The potential is immense: Businesses can expand into new markets without facing financial roadblocks, while individuals can access their money without bureaucratic delays.
    — Marc Sacal, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of expand
Verb
  • With two foot-long horns protruding from either side of their heads, a large hump resting on their shoulders and folds of loose skin drooping from their neck, these aren’t your typical black-and-white milk carton dairy cows.
    — Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2025
  • On the back, the 9a breaks from Pixel tradition, replacing the width-spanning camera bar with a small module protruding from the back.
    — PCMAG, PCMAG, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • Video Mapping: Some couples are using video mapping — or projections on walls or ceilings — to create visual experiences intended to transport guests.
    — Ashley M. Wilcox, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Snow White, of course, earned far less than early projections in its opening weekend with a $42.2 million take from 4,200 North American theaters and tumbled 66% in its second frame with a $14.3 million tally.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of projection
Noun
  • Children may expect to begin posting and instantly see a wave of followers, yet that isn't often the case.
    — Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Whatever the reasons for a decline in club-going, Fields' TikTok video sparked a wave of nostalgia and longing for a time when nightlife was more affordable and less likely to be recorded.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of wave
Adjective
  • Two standout experiences near the water include Schooner’s in the Caribbean Village, open for breakfast and dinner (chef Chris’s swordfish steak was excellent) as well as Barefoot by the Sea in the Italian Village.
    — Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Rear space is excellent, with plenty of legroom and headroom, accentuated by the panoramic sunroof.
    — James Morris, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of excellent

Browse Nearby Words

sweet tooth
swell
swelled
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Cite this Entry

“Swell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swell. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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