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
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
Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 7 Mar. 2026
Remnants of shell middens (high mounds of shells accumulated from long term group settlement) can still be found within the reserve.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Hikers need layered clothing, waterproof shells, and sturdy boots.
—Alexandra Gillespie, Outside, 6 Mar. 2026
Several people were injured Friday when Afghan mortar shells landed in a village in Mohmand, a district in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local official Mohammad Asif said.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Several people were injured Friday when Afghan mortar shells landed in a village in Mohmand, a district in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local official Mohammad Asif said.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
This mechanism suggests Tanyka may have eaten tough plant material and small invertebrates with hard shells.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2026
Based on this jaw structure, the animal’s possible diet included tough plant material and small invertebrates with hard shells.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
This suggests the animal may have eaten tough plant material and small invertebrates with hard shells, making Tanyka possibly omnivorous or herbivorous, unlike many of its meat-eating relatives.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026
E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Noun
The thickness and size of the shells suggest they were laid in a wetter, more humid environment.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 7 Mar. 2026
Remnants of shell middens (high mounds of shells accumulated from long term group settlement) can still be found within the reserve.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Hikers need layered clothing, waterproof shells, and sturdy boots.
—Alexandra Gillespie, Outside, 6 Mar. 2026
Several people were injured Friday when Afghan mortar shells landed in a village in Mohmand, a district in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local official Mohammad Asif said.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Several people were injured Friday when Afghan mortar shells landed in a village in Mohmand, a district in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local official Mohammad Asif said.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
This mechanism suggests Tanyka may have eaten tough plant material and small invertebrates with hard shells.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2026
Based on this jaw structure, the animal’s possible diet included tough plant material and small invertebrates with hard shells.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
This suggests the animal may have eaten tough plant material and small invertebrates with hard shells, making Tanyka possibly omnivorous or herbivorous, unlike many of its meat-eating relatives.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 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
-
Nuts and fatty fishes, like salmon and sardines, contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for building the insulating sheaths that surround the nerve fibers that carry information from one brain cell to another.—
Dana G. Smith,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Taylor, then with her fourth husband Richard Burton, wanted to ditch her formal '50s style of long skirts and tasteful sheaths.—
Liz McNeil,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Building an ultrathin nickelate with atomic precision The team focused on a compound called La₃Ni₂O₇, a nickelate made of nickel and oxygen atoms arranged in layered structures.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The sheriff's office also advised people to avoid damaged structures and structures that had been marked by emergency personnel.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The wide space exteriors and spaceship shots were entirely digital and beautifully done by ILM.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In addition to spot-cleaning any stains or scuff marks on the exteriors of purses, backpacks, or luggage, double-check the interiors.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Winter showcases the exfoliating bark, which peels away to reveal strips of gray, orange, and brick red.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Low tides offer a look as the ocean peels back to give people a glimpse at the critters and plant life usually underwater.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
31 Dec. 2025
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
-
Nearby, investigators found multiple shell casings, two kitchen knives and a handgun.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
3 Mar. 2026
-
By sunrise, the normally crowded stretch of West Sixth Street had been transformed into an expansive crime scene, with investigators collecting shell casings, canvassing nearby businesses for surveillance footage and interviewing patrons and witnesses who had fled the gunfire.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Defenders of the new classics—with its incorporation of race, gender, pop culture, and comparative frameworks—see it as a more faithful representation of antiquity itself.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
According to lawsuits filed on Friday, two employees of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) used ChatGPT to determine whether previously approved National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants should be canceled based on proximity to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion frameworks.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Elevated surfaces such as trees and bridges are most at risk, while roadways may see some impacts depending on how quickly temperatures drop.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Des Moines Register,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Think of the generic, smooth plastic surfaces found in many cars.—
Beth Livesay,
AJC.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shells. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
