1
as in projections
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in increases
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the club membership has really swelled in recent months
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in expands
to make greater in size, amount, or number
more layoffs will swell the ranks of the unemployed to unprecedented levels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in protrudes
to extend outward beyond a usual point
at that point the Congo River swells and forms Malebo Pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of swells
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
But rather than big Hawaiian swells, these waves were the crashing sounds of social media users poking fun at the look of the upcoming Disney film.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
The water in Tomales Bay, a narrow inlet northeast of Point Reyes, was choppy Saturday, with swells as high as 3 feet, the sheriff’s statement said.
—Alyce McFadden, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Mar. 2026
Outside those emotional swells, the family was relieved to be together, and free of the dread that had hung over them in New York.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
From familiar orchestral swells to ritualized envelope openings, Hollywood’s annual night at the Dolby is uniquely suited for nocturnal drifting.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
Last year, the swimming portion was canceled because of large swells and the event made a quick pivot by offering a 5K run the night before.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Small craft should exercise caution near inlets due to incoming long-period swells.
—Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
The choral elements on the record shine most vividly on the title track, which features polyphonic swells of voices humming melodies, overtaking the piano, dropping and then rising again.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
The noise of your life recedes and a surge of connectedness and gratitude swells inside of you.
—Outside Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Irene makes an evil smile and heads out as the music swells.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Unlike the sleek mansions lining much of California’s shoreline, this unassuming house has always felt like something out of a fisherman’s tale—shrouded in salt spray as swells crash against the rocks below.
—Jennifer Fernandez, Architectural Digest, 6 Mar. 2026
Cocoa Beach is Florida’s ultimate surf-and-sand playground with six miles of golden sand, Atlantic swells for every skill level, and rocket launches visible on the horizon.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026
Hot stones are added, one by one, as the air inside gets heavier, the heat searing the nose and the throat, the sweat starting in rivulets that turn into streams as the smell gets more intense, the heartbeat swells, the mind races.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
When the epiglottis swells, a kid can’t breathe.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
When the lights dim and the music swells, the highlight of the day unfolds.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Noun
When combined with mega high tides and big swells, waves may batter beaches, causing severe erosion.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 27 Mar. 2026
But rather than big Hawaiian swells, these waves were the crashing sounds of social media users poking fun at the look of the upcoming Disney film.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
The water in Tomales Bay, a narrow inlet northeast of Point Reyes, was choppy Saturday, with swells as high as 3 feet, the sheriff’s statement said.
—Alyce McFadden, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Mar. 2026
Outside those emotional swells, the family was relieved to be together, and free of the dread that had hung over them in New York.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
From familiar orchestral swells to ritualized envelope openings, Hollywood’s annual night at the Dolby is uniquely suited for nocturnal drifting.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
Last year, the swimming portion was canceled because of large swells and the event made a quick pivot by offering a 5K run the night before.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Small craft should exercise caution near inlets due to incoming long-period swells.
—Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Feb. 2026
The choral elements on the record shine most vividly on the title track, which features polyphonic swells of voices humming melodies, overtaking the piano, dropping and then rising again.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
That was expected to be the last remaining obstacle to the world's biggest sporting event arriving in this 20,000-person suburb tucked between Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, that swells to three times its size for New England Patriots games.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
The noise of your life recedes and a surge of connectedness and gratitude swells inside of you.
—Outside Online, 18 Mar. 2026
Irene makes an evil smile and heads out as the music swells.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Unlike the sleek mansions lining much of California’s shoreline, this unassuming house has always felt like something out of a fisherman’s tale—shrouded in salt spray as swells crash against the rocks below.
—Jennifer Fernandez, Architectural Digest, 6 Mar. 2026
Cocoa Beach is Florida’s ultimate surf-and-sand playground with six miles of golden sand, Atlantic swells for every skill level, and rocket launches visible on the horizon.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026
Hot stones are added, one by one, as the air inside gets heavier, the heat searing the nose and the throat, the sweat starting in rivulets that turn into streams as the smell gets more intense, the heartbeat swells, the mind races.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
When the epiglottis swells, a kid can’t breathe.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
When the lights dim and the music swells, the highlight of the day unfolds.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swells
Noun
-
The 1996 ad painted a dramatic picture to sell retirement planning, and while some of its projections came surprisingly close, the reality is more nuanced.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
-
But federal budget projections also show the program shrinking as the new work rules kick in, suggesting feeding fewer people is a feature of HR1.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On the Island of the Gods, fresh ideas arrive like waves, creating a glorious cocktail of cultures and influences.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Planes don’t crash during turbulence because their wings continuously generate lift and the surrounding air remains intact, similarly to a boat riding waves.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The translunar injection involves firing Orion's main engine, which increases the spacecraft's velocity to send it out of Earth orbit and toward the moon.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
With warmer weather heralding spring, the amount of outdoor activities significantly increases.—
Lesly Gregory,
AJC.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When this idea is diluted, government expands its ambition to curate the public’s consciousness.—
George F. Will,
Washington Post,
3 Apr. 2026
-
As artificial intelligence expands into classrooms, workplaces, and homes, a new coalition warns that risks to children and workers are growing faster than efforts to control the new technology.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The lone camera is a single round lens that protrudes from the upper-left corner of the rear panel.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The other two types are subserosal (which protrudes on the outside of the uterus) and intramural (which grow within the muscle layer).—
Beth Krietsch,
SELF,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some online commenters in areas where it has been deployed also say the system struggles to properly level surfaces after holes are filled, which can lead to speed bump–like bulges.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Artificially enlarging their crotch area, either by injecting their genitals with engorging chemicals or stuffing their underwear to create bigger bulges, allows the athletes to alter their suit measurements.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
What Happens Next Attention will now turn to labor negotiations, political response, and whether the transition timeline accelerates.—
Sam Stevenson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
When you’re fully submerged in the culture of your field’s epicenter, learning accelerates.—
Bill Gurley,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swells. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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