1
as in sheaths
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it
eating oysters straight out of their shells
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in structures
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 exteriors
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of shells
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 3 May 2026
Each ingredient is store-bought; simply assemble the flaky phyllo dough shells, creamy Brie cheese, tasted pecans, sweet and spicy pepper jelly, fresh parsley, and serve.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
But tourism can also destroy places' souls, hollowing out city centers and leaving empty urban shells whose most striking feature is sheer commercialism.
—CBS News, 1 May 2026
Dentists place thin shells on the front surface of healthy teeth.
—K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
The massive site near De Soto was once home to a factory that produced gunpowder for artillery shells in World War II and rocket propellants during the Vietnam War.
—Hannah Wise, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
Handley says to make sure the shells are dry before using them in your garden.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 25 Apr. 2026
By shedding heavy shells like those seen in early nautiloids and ammonites, the ancestors of modern octopuses traded passive defense for active offense.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
Eggs can be frozen safely — just not in their shells.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Noun
These nanoreactors are built as porous shells enclosing an internal cavity that hosts catalytically active nanoparticles.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 3 May 2026
Each ingredient is store-bought; simply assemble the flaky phyllo dough shells, creamy Brie cheese, tasted pecans, sweet and spicy pepper jelly, fresh parsley, and serve.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
But tourism can also destroy places' souls, hollowing out city centers and leaving empty urban shells whose most striking feature is sheer commercialism.
—CBS News, 1 May 2026
Dentists place thin shells on the front surface of healthy teeth.
—K.h. Koehler, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
The massive site near De Soto was once home to a factory that produced gunpowder for artillery shells in World War II and rocket propellants during the Vietnam War.
—Hannah Wise, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026
Handley says to make sure the shells are dry before using them in your garden.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 25 Apr. 2026
By shedding heavy shells like those seen in early nautiloids and ammonites, the ancestors of modern octopuses traded passive defense for active offense.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
Eggs can be frozen safely — just not in their shells.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
During the drive, a tank shells the car, killing most of the occupants.
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shells
Noun
-
Opt for bigger hanging bulbs, discrete flickers, or even hanging sheaths.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The payload was designed to test a hypersonic navigation system capable of accurately identifying spacecraft position, even when communications are blocked by intense plasma sheaths during hypersonic flight.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Two smaller structures rise to six floors each, alongside the 20-story main tower.—
Adam Williams
May 09,
New Atlas,
9 May 2026
-
The team also demonstrated that the device could identify hidden structures beneath soft materials, including tumor-like objects embedded in tissue models.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Shades of Green Sara McDaniel, designer, renovator, and creator of Simply Southern Cottage, says shades of green will be taking home exteriors by storm in 2026.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 May 2026
-
The collection of four 200-year-old houses that comprise the property are charming with their wooden porches and shingled exteriors, keeping the right amount of familiarity.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
As the ball comes in, two players move towards either post and another is positioned at or peels away to the penalty spot, with the ensuing chaos providing opportunities to score.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Lemon peels speed up decomposition in your compost bin.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The United States bombs Iran's nuclear facilities days later.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Page Six gets a Hollywood edition Papps declined last week to reveal what stories his reporters were chasing and what bombs the political columnists will throw in its first editions.—
Christopher Weber,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Deputies searched the beach and found blood, two pairs of shoes, a Glock handgun and shell casings, according to an arrest affidavit police provided to the Daily News.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
Police found evidence of gunfire at the scene, including several shell casings in the road.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Retail’s identity frameworks and supply chain’s architectural guardrails will be borrowed by those still catching up.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
-
Diversity Across Markets Requires Adaptive Infrastructure Africa is not a single market but instead a collection of economies with distinct regulatory frameworks, languages, and consumer behaviors.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Exposure to snow, ice and salt can weaken materials, loosen boards and create uneven surfaces.—
Angie Hicks,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
-
Here, the Sport+ drive mode does a commendable job of keeping the transmission in the meaty parts of the powerband, while dialing the dampers back to Sport achieves the right balance of body control and compliance on these less-than-perfect road surfaces.—
Bradley Iger,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shells. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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