Synonyms of shell

shell 1 of 2

noun

ˈshel 

1

as in sheath

something that encloses another thing especially to protect it

eating oysters straight out of their shells

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sheath
• casing
• housing
• covering
• hull
• case
• cover
• jacket
• pod
• armor
• capsule
• cocoon
• coating
• husk
• shield
• cartridge
• package
• plate
• wrapper
• encasement
• plating
• bark
• carapace
• crust
• house
• cassette
• skin
• mail
• envelope
• facing
• hide
• backing
• cuticle
• panoply
• coverture

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

• structure
• framework
• architecture
• skeleton
• fabric
• infrastructure
• frame
• configuration
• shape
• armature
• edifice
• framing
• network
• cage
• contour
• lattice
• cadre
• outline
• profile
• chassis
• figure
• silhouette

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

• exterior
• surface
• front
• skin
• outside
• top
• facade
• face
• veneer
• facing
• cover
• appearance
• mask
• covering
• show
• semblance
• disguise
• guise

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• interior
• inside

shell

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to peel

to remove the natural covering of

shelling peanuts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• peel
• bark
• hull
• husk
• skin
• shuck
• scale
• strip
• bare
• expose
• flay
• pare
• denude

2

as in to bomb

to use bombs or artillery against

the enemy shelled the city for days without letup

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bomb
• batter
• attack
• bombard
• blitz
• pound
• cannonade
• rake
• blitzkrieg
• assault
• ravage
• hit
• enfilade
• strafe
• assail
• strike
• devastate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shell

Noun

Pancake will be wearing a satellite tag on its shell, so that the team can monitor its progress. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 July 2026

In all, 1,589,577 dozen white shell eggs and brown cage free shell eggs were recalled by the Midwest Poultry Services, an FDA news release says. — Mary Lyle, Arkansas Online, 23 July 2026

Verb

In eastern Ukraine, Orthodox parishes that are not part of the Russian Orthodox faith have been damaged or destroyed due to shelling from Russian missiles. — Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Ballistics evidence collected from the scene was ultimately connected to shell casings found in the backyard of her home in Vermont, Rouse said. — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 24 June 2026

Phrases Containing shell

• shell game
• shell out