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
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Recent Examples of shell
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025
Conventional wisdom suggests that positioning the egg vertically will increase the chance of keeping its shell intact.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 May 2025
Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Then, in his next outing, Strider got shelled by the Arizona Diamondbacksfor five runs in four innings.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shell
Noun
That’s where police later uncovered a single .40 caliber shell casing tucked inside a white plastic bag, prosecutors say.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025
Conventional wisdom suggests that positioning the egg vertically will increase the chance of keeping its shell intact.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 May 2025
Verb
The Indonesian Hospital, a stately four-story building, was one of the few structures in the vicinity still standing, though it, too, had reportedly been shelled.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Then, in his next outing, Strider got shelled by the Arizona Diamondbacksfor five runs in four innings.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell
Noun
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In this case, investigators found a single source of male DNA on the button snap of a leather knife sheath left at the crime scene, according to a probable cause affidavit.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
1 May 2025
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Paleontologists unearthed the fossil in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, and the find is unique because the sheath of one of the digits is intact.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As the sun sets on century-old structures and the dirt gives way to bulldozers for a multimillion-dollar rebuild, Pimlico Race Course hosted an exciting 150th Preakness Stakes on Saturday.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
18 May 2025
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Consider dual-class share structures whereby founders shield themselves from responsibility regardless of the performance of the company.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
Noun
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Photo: Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust/Getty Images The exterior was inspired by Shingle-style homes, which were popular among wealthy East Coast families.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
8 May 2025
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The exterior is made with mesh to enhance airflow, and the shirt has elastane to stretch and move with you.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
8 May 2025
Verb
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The narrative unfolds and evolves over time, steadily peeling away psychological layers and adding depth through creative additions.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
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Photos taken during the health department’s inspection showed bookshelves with cracked and peeling paint sitting close to the ground, but the wood is now sanded smooth and painted over.—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN Money,
9 May 2025
Verb
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This feud would come to an end on an episode of Monday Night Raw in August 2023 when Owens power bombed Ezekiel onto the ring apron, causing him to be stretchered backstage.—
Jeremy Hanna,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
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On April 2, Israel bombed several Syrian military sites, including the Tiyas air base, known as T4, to prevent Ankara from establishing air defenses there.—
David Makovsky,
Foreign Affairs,
6 May 2025
Noun
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Later at the scene, two shell casings could be seen on the ground with evidence markers nearby.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2025
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Samsung’s base level models typically have casings only slightly larger than the screen itself.—
Andrew Williams,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Noun
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As religious participation declines, one important answer is to create secular frameworks that similarly build common meaning and shared purpose among people—qualities that machines, by definition, cannot provide.—
Kim Samuel,
Time,
14 May 2025
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An evolutionary framework allows AlphaEvolve to focus on the best solution and improve upon it.—
Scharon Harding – May 14,
ArsTechnica,
14 May 2025
Noun
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Mow Only When Grass Is Dry Wet grass clippings cling to mower blades and fall in clumps on the surface of the turf.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2025
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Powered by Adelaide, Forbes AI Creating and selling digital assets looks simple on the surface: make once, sell infinitely, enjoy passive income.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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