1
as in great
of the very best kind
what a swell time we had at the country club dance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in happening
being in the latest or current fashion
in its heyday as a summer resort, the town was known for its swanky hotels and swell restaurants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the club membership has really swelled in recent months
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to expand
to make greater in size, amount, or number
more layoffs will swell the ranks of the unemployed to unprecedented levels
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3
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
at that point the Congo River swells and forms Malebo Pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in projection
a part that sticks out from the general mass of something
the graceful swell of the bottle was meant to be evocative of the female figure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swell
Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
Cowboys pass at will on Panthers’ defense While the Carolina defense continued to do a swell job against the run for a second consecutive weekend, the coverage unit left a lot to be desired against Prescott and the Cowboys’ aerial attack.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
Precious Fondren, Pitchfork, 24 Feb. 2026
Sure, my knee might swell for a day or so afterwards, but swelling was temporary.
—Dimity McDowell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Next came a swell of questions about the large tattoo that Platner had on his chest, a skull and crossbones widely recognized to be a Nazi death’s-head.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swell
Adjective
And then there’s Lousy Louie, a basically swell kid, trying to stick to the straight and narrow during his first year of parole.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
Cowboys pass at will on Panthers’ defense While the Carolina defense continued to do a swell job against the run for a second consecutive weekend, the coverage unit left a lot to be desired against Prescott and the Cowboys’ aerial attack.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
As the arrangement swells, her layers of vocals begin to blend together—one line scatting while another rises in a chant.
—Precious Fondren, Pitchfork, 24 Feb. 2026
Sure, my knee might swell for a day or so afterwards, but swelling was temporary.
—Dimity McDowell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
News of Guthrie’s abduction 18 days ago has triggered a swell of public interest that’s grown as the case goes unsolved.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Next came a swell of questions about the large tattoo that Platner had on his chest, a skull and crossbones widely recognized to be a Nazi death’s-head.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swell
Adjective
-
Hasal, however, stood up to the task, denying the penalty attempt with a diving save to Nielsen’s great relief.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The Agnus Dei begins in glum realization that there may be no compensation for humanity’s great sins when, again astonishingly without expectation, one of Beethoven’s uniquely wondrous melodies takes over.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The ship is thoughtfully designed to allow for ample space so guests do not feel overcrowded, even in the most happening spots.—
Susan Barnes,
Southern Living,
10 Dec. 2025
-
While the overarching trend for fall is still lowest maintenance possible, there's a bit more happening than your typical sunny blondes and balayage brunettes.—
Bella Cacciatore,
Glamour,
2 Sep. 2020
Verb
-
So ticket prices could quickly start to increase if the conflict lingers.—
CARA RUBINSKY,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The condition is a leading cause of preventable death, increasing the risk of heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.—
Kathleen Felton,
Washington Post,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The bill expanded background checks for gun purchasers under the age of 21 and also provided federal money for state red flag laws.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The flagship Semafor World Economy, anchored in Washington DC, is the largest annual gathering of top global CEOs in North America, and Semafor’s convening on emerging economies, The Next Three Billion, is held annually at UNGA and expanded this year to South Africa, East Africa, and UAE.—
Rachel Keidan,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
During wildlife surveys in 2022 and 2023 in eastern Thailand, a research team came across a small, nocturnal gecko with a triangular head and large, slightly protruding eyes.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2026
-
New At just over 7 inches long, this gecko is compact, with a triangular head and large, slightly protruding brown eyes.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
New federal projection released June 18 show the combined Social Security trust funds will pay 100% of benefits until 2034 before becoming depleted.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
28 Feb. 2026
-
In his latest tournament projections before Saturday's, ESPN college basketball analyst Joe Lunardi placed the Aggies and Longhorns as his final two tournament teams not in the First Four.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Understanding those waves, and being able to use Einstein’s relativity to account for the arrival time differences at different locations, is key to pinpointing where those gravitational wave signals originate from.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The Dome is a quiet spot for reading and wave-watching during the day.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Cats, after all, are excellent self cleaners.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Infiniti restaurant at Grace Bay Club is great for a very upscale evening, but Parallel 23 at The Palms, known for its fish, pasta, and excellent desserts, remains one of the very best meals of my trip.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swell. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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