as in waves
a moving ridge on the surface of water
the great billows created by the ocean storm threatened to swamp the fishing boat
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in protrudes
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the curtains in the open windows billowed in the summer wind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of billows
Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
It’s presented in a treasure chest with smoke protruding as the chest opens, slowly displaying the cocktail itself as the smoke billows into the patron’s face, preparing their nostrils for the smokey aroma ahead.
—Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Video released by the prison shows large chunks of debris flying off the roof with what appears to be billows of black storm clouds above the penitentiary.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
Smoke billows from the Lyondell Basell Houston refinery in Texas in 2024.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
It’s presented in a treasure chest with smoke protruding as the chest opens, slowly displaying the cocktail itself as the smoke billows into the patron’s face, preparing their nostrils for the smokey aroma ahead.
—Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for billows
Noun
-
Lots of rain, coming in waves, especially in eastern and south Florida.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Afghans lost the ability to contact anyone within or beyond their borders, sending waves of panic worldwide as families, colleagues and friends realized an entire nation had gone dark.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Baleen is a specialized type of bone that protrudes from the jaws like teeth and is used to filter small critters from the ocean water to feed.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.—
MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Thanks to its location where the Southern and Indian oceans meet, Cape Town receives swells from both directions.—
Mark Ellwood,
AFAR Media,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Impressionistic lyrics would fit this stuff, but Le Bon pokes the spacious haze with direct evocations of love and heartbreak.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The track pokes fun at consumerism and a materialistic society constantly seeking the next best thing, a theme that remains relevant nearly 45 years later.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Billows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/billows. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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