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
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Recent Examples of shell
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
Three years ago, a Chinese startup called Outask had a vision for a more versatile lantern, one with an upper body shell that splits out into a tripod with magnetic mounting – pretty cool, but ultimately not cool enough for the folks who built it.
—New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2025
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
Whole seeds provide more fiber, potassium, and zinc, while shelled pepitas offer more protein, fat, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus.
—Johna Burdeos, Health, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shell
Noun
The recycled shells provide a good place for wild baby oysters (called spat) to latch onto and grow and also offer feeding grounds for various fish species.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
Three years ago, a Chinese startup called Outask had a vision for a more versatile lantern, one with an upper body shell that splits out into a tripod with magnetic mounting – pretty cool, but ultimately not cool enough for the folks who built it.
—New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
There might be larger NSRs These findings challenge existing models of nova recurrence and shell formation, indicating that nova systems may evolve more rapidly than previously thought.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2025
Whole seeds provide more fiber, potassium, and zinc, while shelled pepitas offer more protein, fat, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus.
—Johna Burdeos, Health, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell
Noun
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According to the case's probable cause affidavit, which was reviewed by PEOPLE, Kohberger was caught after a sheath of the knife used in the murders was left at the scene in the bed where Mogen and Goncalves were found.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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The murder weapon was never recovered, but the killer dropped a Ka-Bar knife sheath near Mogen's body.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Real Madrid are stepping up plans towards a radical change in their ownership structure — one that would allow external investors to purchase stakes in the club for the very first time.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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That all larger structures and processes that occur between those structures, including all chemical reactions, don’t require anything more than those fundamental laws and constituents.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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More to Explore The exterior of the house resembles a three-dimensional De Stijl painting.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
15 Oct. 2025
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The drone’s registration number must be clearly displayed on its exterior.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ukraine bombs Russian energy infrastructure to defend civilians and destroy the Kremlin war machine.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Oct. 2025
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Earlier in the week, Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of bombing the capital, Kabul, and a market in the country's east.—
NPR,
NPR,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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It's frequently served rolled into sausage-and-rice balls called boudin balls or stuffed into a casing like other sausage preparations.—
Elizabeth Mervosh,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
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Once harvested, nuts must be washed and dried and removed from their shell and, for some types of nuts, first from an exterior husk or other casing.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Develop a collaborative group presentation that proposes alternative language and frameworks for understanding historical illness.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Oct. 2025
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After painstaking efforts, Witkoff and Kushner emerged with the framework of an accord that promises, at least for now, to quiet one of the world's most destabilizing conflicts.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Poland’s Nazi labyrinth The countryside around the little Polish village of Pniewo looks serene, with its yellow crops and patches of forest, but beneath the surface lies a sprawling 20-mile maze of tunnels, shafts, underground railway stations and combat facilities.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
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These three picks just scratch the surface of on-sale fall tableware and decor, so make sure to keep scrolling to shop more autumnal finds at Pottery Barn.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The volunteer pilot, a Wyoming physician named Brent Blue, told me that there’s usually not too much barking unless there’s a cat on board.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
16 Oct. 2025
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Perhaps a dog barks too much, a cat roams through the yard, or pets are relieving themselves in unwanted areas.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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