SHELLS Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

shells 1 of 2

noun

plural of shell

as in sheaths

something that encloses another thing especially to protect it eating oysters straight out of their shells

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shells

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of shell

as in peels

to remove the natural covering of shelling peanuts

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as in bombs

to use bombs or artillery against the enemy shelled the city for days without letup

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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 shells

Noun

Placing the shells back in the water offers a hard base for baby oysters to grow on. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2026 More than 600 species of fossils from the Miocene era have been identified at the park, including Chesapectens, Ecphora, shark teeth, and Miocene-era oyster shells. — Katie Riley, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026 The stunning saloon offers up a number of bespoke details inspired by its pint-sized namesake, some of which were made from abalone shells. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2026 Thunder and lightning go off like artillery shells in every direction and the temperature can drop 30 degrees in seconds. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026 Throughout the war in Ukraine, artillery crews have repeatedly had guns and could locate their targets but have lacked the shells to fire. — Nadia Schadlow, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026 The dish is built on bite-sized pasta shells bathed in North Carolina miso mornay and topped with miso cream. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026 For thousands and sometimes millions of years, marine plankton all over the world built their spiral shells in one direction. — Quanta Magazine, 11 Sep. 2026 Lamb said the store had been selling everything from shotgun shells to rifle cartridges. — Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 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

In a slow cooker, shrimp become bouncy and rubbery, and fish flakes apart into dry sheaths of overcooked flesh.

— Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 6 Sep. 2026
The research team says future versions may use adjustable sheaths or elastic materials to fit a wider range of bodies.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of sheaths

Noun

Expanding Shorts into episode-like structures taps into the platform’s burgeoning living room audience, more than 35% of which watched YouTube Shorts on TV in July.

— Corbin Bolies, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
Realizing this opportunity will require PE firms to adapt their investment structures, with implications likely to reach their portfolio companies (PortCos).

— Nate Heeren, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of structures

Noun

Few sequences begin with relaxed establishing shots of exteriors or end with cute punch lines to transition to the next scene.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
The filmmaker contrasts her bucolic nature scenes with shots of the giant ships passing by and the interiors and exteriors of the factories located near the island, belching smoke and lit up at night like a forbidding theme park.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of exteriors

Verb

As autumn progresses, the husk peels back, revealing the orange berries.

— Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
Nordic noir suggests the presence of violence and hatred beneath the tranquillity and order of the Scandinavian welfare state, just as Southern noir peels back hospitality and charm to reveal repressed family secrets and moral decay.

— Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of peels

Noun

Police said the rounds appeared to be the same color and caliber as the casings found at the shooting scene.

— Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026
Engineers at Idaho National Laboratory have brought a custom dismantling rig online to peel the metal casings off radioactive fuel rods.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of casings

Noun

If the current American government, within international legal frameworks, wishes to reach an agreement, fine.

— Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Aerospace has long relied on rigorous certification processes for the software and manufacturing methods used to build aircraft, while the pharmaceutical industry has developed frameworks for validating computational models used in drug development.

— Francesco Iorio, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of frameworks

Noun

Consumers also were advised to carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers the cheeses may have touched.

— Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026
It’s unscented, easy to use, and works wonders on a variety of surfaces, including baseboards, tile, and grout.

— Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026