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
Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
This tier doesn’t include metal shells—that begins with the Pro 5—but Dell's choice of plastic feels sturdy and ready to shrug off daily wear and tear.
—Charles Jefferies, PC Magazine, 28 May 2026
William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
The weather and the moon also affect shelling.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shell
Noun
Regulars indulge their bistro swagger with oysters on the half shell, foie gras torchon with fig-pear marmalade, cheese souffle, brown butter skate wing, and a proper steak au poivre.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
This tier doesn’t include metal shells—that begins with the Pro 5—but Dell's choice of plastic feels sturdy and ready to shrug off daily wear and tear.
—Charles Jefferies, PC Magazine, 28 May 2026
Verb
Prosecutors said tests run on that weapon tied it to shell casings from the March shooting.
—William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
The weather and the moon also affect shelling.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for shell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell
Noun
-
More recently, a forensic scientist and criminologist hired by Kohberger's defense team named Brent Turvey has raised concerns about the chain of custody of the prosecution's main piece of evidence, a Ka-Bar knife sheath with Kohberger's DNA on it recovered next to Mogen and Goncalves.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
2 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
-
In response, Wave Texturizing Mist reimagines the ingredient altogether, opting instead for sea salt rich in magnesium, calcium, and potassium to create structure without brittleness.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
1 June 2026
-
Meeting that challenge demands permanent inter-governmental coordination units and not the current model of temporary structures standing down the moment a crisis ends.—
Daniele Nyirandutiye,
semafor.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Cheval Blanc Courchevel’s mustard exterior suggests a traditional, Savoyard scene of reindeer rugs and bannisters carved with twee hearts and cowbells inside.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
-
Wipe fan blades and the hood exterior with a degreaser or hot, soapy water.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The year was anything but easy for Divac, though, with NATO beginning to bomb his native Serbia late in the season.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
-
Oil prices rose around 3% after the Pentagon said the United States bombed Iranian military sites, retaliation for Tehran's shooting down of an American drone.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Shell casings were found inside the truck, Pace said, and the four other teens inside the vehicle, who were 19, 18, 17 and 16, are in custody.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
-
Investigators recovered approximately 31 shell casings from the scene and said evidence showed multiple rounds were fired toward homes and residents.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Congress this week released a bipartisan framework that would establish the first broad federal approach to AI regulation while temporarily preempting many state laws.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
-
At just under $13K, Amazon’s prefab expandable tiny home is a highly customizable space for budding entrepreneurs and eager homeowners alike, offering a small but sturdy framework to build out a dream project on a budget.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
When there is no oil, butter, food or liquid in the pan, the surface can heat up quickly.—
Ryan Brennan
June 2,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
On the surface, the Yaima Maru offers a perfect slow-travel escape — a passenger ferry equipped with saunas, karaoke rooms and a top-deck cafe.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Instead, the party carries all the threat of a barking lap dog.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
3 June 2026
-
Fans and players on both sides started barking, resulting in a social media frenzy.—
Molly Keshin,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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