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

Flutes, maracas and the rhythmic rattle of shells soon filled the room as Ortega led the other dancers through a series of movements rooted in an Indigenous tradition. — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026 What better place to display the shells the family collected on vacation? — Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2026 The new camera is designed to look like it was pulled directly from the 2000s (rather than the ’80s look of the original), with metallic silver and bubblegum pink options among the blind box shells. — Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026 Take cues from Celine and Dries Van Noten and look for long pendants featuring a constellation of medallions, letters, shells, horns, the like. — Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026 Stricker Auto Parts made sure every VIN was removed from the body shells, which employees like Woodley then cut in half. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026 Guests love watching for wildlife, searching for prized shells and fishing on charter boats or from the Bayview Fishing Pier. — South Seas Island Resort, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026 Importantly, this outlook not only incorporates the chip supply Broadcom expects to receive, but also physical infrastructure constraints such as land, power, and data center shells. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 The shells usually kept her occupied while her mother worked. — Literary Hub, 2 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

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
To further the house’s connection to nature, Wright used flagstone flooring inside and out and employed large sheaths of glass windows for visual continuity.

— Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026

Definition of sheaths

Noun

The difference may stem from the very different structures and bonding found in the two superconductors.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Aside from the accessible play structures and equipment, Empowerment Park has group picnic and BBQ areas, community garden beds, accessible off-street and disabled parking, shade structures and self-cleaning restrooms.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of structures

Noun

The institute now plans to use these heat-blocking fabrics for building exteriors, roadside facilities, and international transit markets facing their own scorching summers.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
Known as Canadarms, the robotic tools attached to shuttles’ exteriors.

— Joanna Goodrich, IEEE Spectrum, 2 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 found shell casings that all came from the same firearm recovered from the scene, per the statement.

— Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Per the initial information, someone shot back from inside the park, and officers later found two sets of shell casings in the park and across the street, including rifle casings.

— Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of casings

Noun

Although the couple was worried about damaging the tiles underfoot with such footwear as high heels, the Penha Longa Resort events team assured them that all surfaces were meant to be walked on.

— Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
The Ice Dart belongs to a broader push in robotics called perching, an approach borrowed from nature that tries to give drones the ability to grab onto surfaces the way birds, insects, and geckos do.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026