Thesaurus results for GILLS

gills 1 of 2

noun (1)

plural of gill

as in girlfriends

a female romantic companion every Jack must have his Gill

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gills

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural of gill, British

as in canyons

a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage a narrow gill in the Cumbrian Mountains of the Lake District

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as in creeks

a natural body of running water smaller than a river a narrow but surprisingly deep gill runs the length of the rocky gorge

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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 gills

Noun

The spread of harmful algae, which eat oxygen in the water or clog fish gills, is a growing problem in every Great Lake, according to NOAA. — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2026 As water moves through their gills, it is filtered for microscopic organisms that these mollusks then consume as food. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026 These are the primary look-alike for this type of edible mushroom, and are recognizable by their true gills rather than forking folds and an orange color that gradually gets darker toward the center of the cap. — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026 Sometimes the dark marks are on the lips or the gills or even covering the fish's eyes. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 July 2026 These had a head dominated by large eyes and a partially ossified jaw—but again, no external gills. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2026 Tiny mineral deposits preserved within the gills appear to have acted as calcium stores, helping developing larvae build their shells — a process similar to what scientists observe in living freshwater mussels today. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026 This is an absolute dream machine, packed to the gills with high-octane silicon that will dominate any modern game at maximum settings. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 18 June 2026 So are Western destroying angel mushroom, which have creamy white caps and white gills. — Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gills

Noun

Like many girlfriends throughout history, Marilyn wound up spending a lot of time with her boyfriend’s best friend.

— Blake J. Harris, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026
Both players, arrested in the offseason on charges tied to domestic abuse involving their girlfriends, remain the subjects of ongoing league investigations.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of girlfriends

Noun

When the sun goes down, the wind picks up in central New Mexico, whipping through arid canyons with a ghostly howl that for centuries, locals have likened to the wails of the folkloric ghost La Llorona.

— Sara Herschander, Vox, 22 Oct. 2026
The last major blaze to sweep through the area was the 2018 Woolsey Fire, meaning brush in most of those canyons has not been cleared for about eight years.

— Tom Tapp, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of canyons

Noun

Ne-Yo endeared himself to a legion of women bruised by the very men who’d eventually steer R&B into an era of lawlessness.

— Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2026
People with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, young children and anyone 65 or older are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu, and Turner urged anyone fitting those categories to take extra precautions this season.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of women

Noun

This 150-acre Clayton County preserve sits near shopping centers and busy roads, but its trails wind through woodlands, ravines and ponds that feel worlds away from metro Atlanta.

— Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Many more were imperiled by muddy water racing through the narrow ravines, sparking frantic rescue missions for dozens.

— Holly Yan, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of ravines

Noun

Two teenage girls spent months plotting a mass shooting in Riverside County, officials say.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
The project at Trinity, an all-girls Roman Catholic school, ties into the church’s global initiatives to embrace environmental justice.

— Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of girls

Noun

The Ivy League college where fraternities throw parties in towering mansions and students weave between deep gorges on their way to class is being rocked over the handling of rape allegations from 2024.

— Grey Battle, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Cliffs teeter at 1,640 feet, before tumbling down in a flurry of vineyards and walking trails to the rushing rivers and gorges of Sil and Miño.

— Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of gorges

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gillnetters

gills

gilt

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“Gills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gills. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of gills

noun (1)

noun (2)

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