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
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 shell
Nina Bambysheva, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
That blue shell, which hunts down whoever is in first place and punishes them for winning, is nowhere to be found.
—Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Murat Ates, New York Times, 21 May 2025
In the first months of the war, Russian troops shelled and took possession of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shell
Noun
Since traditional IPOs are costly, often require teams of lawyers and can take years, these Strategy-wannabes are instead tapping Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, known as SPACs, or finding existing public shells—micro-cap companies ripe for what is known as a reverse-merger.
—Nina Bambysheva, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
That blue shell, which hunts down whoever is in first place and punishes them for winning, is nowhere to be found.
—Luke Winkie, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Verb
When he got shelled again by St. Louis, the criticism piled up as Hellebuyck looked genuinely rattled by the results.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 21 May 2025
In the first months of the war, Russian troops shelled and took possession of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell
Noun
-
This can cut off the medial nerve that runs through the transverse carpal ligament that serves as a protective sheath for the nerves.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
-
To further the house’s connection to nature, Wright used flagstone flooring inside and out and employed large sheaths of glass windows for visual continuity.—
Elizabeth Fazzare,
Architectural Digest,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
An array of speakers criticized a modern-esque four-story concert hall around older military structures—many built over a century ago—converted into residences in 1998.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2025
-
After all, this $152 million structure included a $50 million contribution from Qualcomm co-founder Andrew Viterbi in honor of Achille Viterbi, his father, an accomplished ophthalmologist who brought the family to America, fleeing fascist Italy in 1939.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 June 2025
Noun
-
Another common misstep is ignoring undertones, which can result in clashing colors that disrupt the overall harmony of your exterior.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
25 June 2025
-
Glow in the Dark Cars MBUX Fluid Light Paint coats the exterior of the Concept AMG GT XX.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
Citrus peels, coffee grounds, pine needles, and other organic matter are compostable but may cause issues when introduced in large amounts.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
27 June 2025
-
To prepare the salad: Separate the broccoli florets and then peel away the woody exterior of the stalks and cut into ¼-inch pieces.—
Beth Dooley,
Boston Herald,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
But the Israel-Iran conflict − and Trump's decision to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites − has scrambled the high-stakes meeting as world leaders search for an endgame to the 12-day air war that's killed hundreds of people in Iran and dozens in Israel.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
-
But those threats were beaten back in the last few years of war, and twice last year, Israel got practice rounds bombing Iran following Iranian missile fire.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
The sturdy metal casing and long battery life make this configuration ideal for working on the go, so have a laptop bag handy.—
Jade Chung-Lee,
PC Magazine,
25 June 2025
-
Police found ten bullet casings on the scene, and security video showed a white BMW SUV leaving after the shooting.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
The building belongs to the Williamsburg Bray School, which taught mostly enslaved students in the 1760s using a religious framework to justify slavery.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2025
-
Use Compliance as a Security Tool, Not a Checkbox: Regulatory frameworks like NIST and CMMC should not be treated as paperwork exercises.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
Stomach sleepers need a firmer surface to keep this area uplifted, as something too soft causes the lower back to sink in.—
Julia Forbes,
Wired News,
27 June 2025
-
But beneath the surface, this is a deliberate shift.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share