SHELLS Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

shells 1 of 2

noun

Definition of shells next

plural of shell

as in sheaths

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

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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

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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

Oceanic motifs were all over the runways this season, from shells and fish to corals and waves. —

Frances Solá-Santiago, InStyle, 24 May 2026 Designers paired those larger shells with smaller features closer to the ground to give viewers multiple spots to look during the lengthy show. —

Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 23 May 2026 Last year, Jeep and Addax expanded the partnership to begin offering Addax trailers and modular Gladiator camping shells directly through Mopar, Jeep's official parts, service and customer care arm. —

C.c. Weiss may 22, New Atlas, 22 May 2026 Haudenosaunee laws and treaties, including Gayanashagowa, were communicated for centuries through wampum belts adorned with quahog shells. —

Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026 Crispy Cones, the trendy ice cream shop serving warm pastry shells swirled high with soft serve, is finally open in Charlotte. —

Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 19 May 2026 Oyster shells might look like just restaurant garbage, but they could soon be used to develop future cars. —

Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 May 2026 Radiocarbon dating of the freshwater mussel shells reveals that the dingo’s burial mound was built between 916 and 963 years ago, around the same time the dingo died. —

ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026 Early risers will beat beachgoers to find coquinas, false angel wings, conch, murexes, scallops, tulip shells, and more. —

Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 17 May 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