1
as in sheath
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it
eating oysters straight out of their shells
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in structure
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form
workers at the shipyard have thus far erected the shell of the ship
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in exterior
an outer part or layer
the shell of the building is all glass, making it conspicuous on a street with mostly limestone facades
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of shell
Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
The delicate, smaller twists are adorned with gold charms and the occasional cowrie shell.
—Sunnah Rasheed, InStyle, 11 June 2026
Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 31 May 2026
Software Versus Steel Ukraine cannot match Russia tank for tank, shell for shell, or soldier for soldier over a long war.
—Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shell
Noun
What began as a quiet evening quickly turned frightening after the couple climbed onto the jetty rocks to look for shells and crabs.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
The delicate, smaller twists are adorned with gold charms and the occasional cowrie shell.
—Sunnah Rasheed, InStyle, 11 June 2026
Verb
After roasting, shelled pumpkin seeds will last one to two weeks at room temperature or up to one month in the refrigerator, notes Johnson.
—Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 31 May 2026
Software Versus Steel Ukraine cannot match Russia tank for tank, shell for shell, or soldier for soldier over a long war.
—Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell
Noun
-
Police found a leather Ka-Bar sheath in the bed with Goncalves and Mogen that prosecutors later said had Kohberger's DNA on it.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
-
Extremely smooth on the palate, its flavors of blackberry, dark plum, cinnamon, and nutmeg are set into a sheath of plush tannins that gently drop off into a slightly drying finish.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Even before the pier collapse, the structure was looking at damage from a previous storm that would take $20 million to repair.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
-
Many of the original structures on the ranch were built by Lytle and his brother—including the Meadowlark Cabin, which still exists today.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The ceremony also marks the contribution of the generations of artisans whose work is at last fully visible as the final cranes and scaffolding are peeled from the basilica’s exterior.—
Claudio Lavanga,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
-
The resulting pastry, exemplified by rum-and-vanilla scented versions sold at Bordeaux pastry shop Baillardran, has a custard-like texture and mahogany exterior.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
As the band blares, Georgia fans bark for the Dawgs and Alabama faithful screech Roll Tide.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Many of the contributions strived to be very funny, opportunities for everyone reading to bark or clap for a few seconds before continuing to scroll and forgetting the commenter’s existence forever.—
Paul McAdory,
Them.,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Months later, the US and Israel bombed Iran in a conflict that is ongoing.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
The campus is eerily silent, even as Israel attacks Lebanon and the United States bombs Iran.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
But prosecutors say that police collected 37 shell casings from the scene, not 30.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
-
Workers open the casing and pull out the battery’s core parts — the electrodes — while these are still completely intact.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Prasad also discussed a new framework for regulating vaccines, one that remains vague, but suggests companies could be asked to conduct much more onerous and expensive studies to prove the safety and efficacy of their vaccines.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Twin Cities,
7 Dec. 2025
-
Critically, ethical governance is lagging, as current frameworks treat organoids only as biomedical tools.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Millions of Americans deal with corneal injuries, dry eye disease and other surface eye conditions every year, and most treatments share a frustrating flaw.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
-
Maybe Bartholomew, a 2025 sixth-round pick, surfaces as a Johnny Mundt type.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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