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
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2026
In the closet was a rifle sling, rifle case, gun targets, a shotgun shell and another unopened gun lock and key, photos showed.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Because peas are sweetest immediately after harvest, shelling and freezing them right away locks in their natural flavor before sugars convert to starch.
—Amber Love Bond, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shell
Noun
Once the snow melted and temperatures warmed, the mudbugs were fully grown and shedding their shells, resulting in soft crawfish that are no good for consumption.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Feb. 2026
In the closet was a rifle sling, rifle case, gun targets, a shotgun shell and another unopened gun lock and key, photos showed.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
After all, the beans have to be shelled not once, but twice.
—Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Because peas are sweetest immediately after harvest, shelling and freezing them right away locks in their natural flavor before sugars convert to starch.
—Amber Love Bond, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell
Noun
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Investigators were able to tie him to the killings using DNA retrieved from the button snap of a knife sheath that was left near one of the slain students' bodies.—
Anna Schecter,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
In the Kohberger case, investigators acknowledged the FBI used DNA from a a knife sheath found at the crime scene in a genetic investigation.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But determining how to structure reimbursements would be tricky, as the costs of the tariffs flowed through the economy in the form of customers paying the taxes directly as well as importers either passing along the cost indirectly or absorbing them.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Feb. 2026
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The funding will also allow for construction of an ornamental structure to enhance the park’s performance pavilion, as originally envisioned.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Whether enjoyed during Purim or another time of year, these cookies offer up a sweet and ever so slightly salty flavor with a nice crispy exterior and a somehow simultaneously flaky and cakey interior.—
Marianne Williams,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
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To capture the character’s duality – a polished professional exterior masking profound inner darkness – the actress made deliberate physical and psychological adjustments during production.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ukrainian pianist and composer Vadim Neselovskyi was born in Odesa, a city that Russia has repeatedly bombed since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
25 Feb. 2026
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Their fear for their own lives was eclipsed by an urgent sense of responsibility toward the civilians being starved and bombed to death.—
Yousra Elbagir,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Using a flat finish on the walls creates a soft, velvety backdrop, while semi-gloss on the trim and casings draws the eye to the room’s architectural details.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Records show police recovered handgun casings from the scene, and the victim, who survived, was treated at a hospital.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The non-binding memorandum of understanding on rare earths establishes a framework for cooperation between the two countries, focusing on reciprocal investment, exploration, mining and artificial intelligence applications, among other issues.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
However, the new framework goes further.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Getting the kids past the surface lift and onto the chair is monumental.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
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Pasten and mathematician Jerson Caro placed an upper bound on the number of rational points for certain surfaces in a 2023 paper, for example.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Out in the full glare of the riverbank dogs were barking, clothes were drying on the ghat, little boys were playing with marbles, running about with strings, beating along old bicycle tyres with sticks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
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Nothing flusters her except dogs barking, and as the story unfolds the reason is easily surmised.—
Mary Damiano,
Miami Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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