swell 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of swellnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

swell

2 of 3

verb

ˈswel How to pronounce swell (audio)
1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number the club membership has really swelled in recent months

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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point at that point the Congo River swells and forms Malebo Pool

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

swell

3 of 3

noun

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wave
a moving ridge on the surface of water huge swells overwhelmed the tiny craft

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb swell differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of swell are amplify, dilate, distend, expand, and inflate. While all these words mean "to increase in size or volume," swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

In what contexts can amplify take the place of swell?

The synonyms amplify and swell are sometimes interchangeable, but amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

amplify the statement with details

When might dilate be a better fit than swell?

While the synonyms dilate and swell are close in meaning, dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

dilated pupils

When could distend be used to replace swell?

The words distend and swell are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

a distended abdomen

When would expand be a good substitute for swell?

Although the words expand and swell have much in common, expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (such as growth, unfolding, addition of parts).

a business that expands every year

When is it sensible to use inflate instead of swell?

While in some cases nearly identical to swell, inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

an inflated ego

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 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
The defensive sideline erupted, and Morrison’s chest swelled. —Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026 Spring onions, onions that have been harvested before the bulb has had a chance to swell, are a bit more fragile than adult onion varieties. —Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 14 June 2026
Noun
Law enforcement broke up emotional swells from people on both sides. —Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 10 June 2026 Learn to ride Atlantic swells from expert instructors in towns like Lagos. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for swell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swell
  1. great
  2. happening
  3. increase
  4. expand
  5. protrude
  6. projection
  7. wave
  8. excellent
Adjective
  • The tornadoes that do form in the higher risk area could become intense — EF3 strength or greater — and might also travel long distances.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
  • Most hotels sit behind the main road, often thronged with tourists and traffic noise, but the Regent Shanghai on the Bund gives guests great views without the fuss.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026
Definition of great
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
Definition of happening
Verb
  • Baird added that interest in luxury homes has increased recently among SpaceX's mid-30s to early-40s employee base, according to California real estate agents.
    — Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 13 June 2026
  • Be careful when riding back downtown on a bike, as the hill notoriously increases cycling speed.
    — Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026
Definition of increase
Verb
  • Ulbrich envisions Walker expanding his leadership role on the defense as well with Elliss and defensive tackle David Onyemata no longer in the building.
    — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • The backstory What started as a private project, owned by former TAP Air pilot Gonçalo Pessoa and wife Patrícia Trigo, has expanded over the years to become arguably the most talked about resort in Portugal.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 June 2026
Definition of expand
Verb
  • Features such as surface roughness and protruding fibers create more sites where particles can stick to the outer surface rather than passing through.
    — Sumit Mandal, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
  • In his right leg, Adin's tibia bone was broken in half and protruded through the skin.
    — Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • Should the projection hold, that’s good news for Disclosure Day’s studio Universal Pictures, considering that industry trades were forecasting a lower opening for the film earlier this week.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
  • The ceremony opened with a performer hoisted on a robotic arm interacting with projections of environments drawn from international and Chinese films, setting the tone for a festival that is leaning into artificial intelligence while insisting on cinema’s irreducible humanity.
    — Marcus Lim, Variety, 13 June 2026
Definition of projection
Noun
  • Amid a wave of pitching injuries, Cabrera walked off the Wrigley Field mound with an athletic trainer Tuesday night, exiting his start against the Colorado Rockies in the fifth inning of a 5-2 loss to the worst team in the majors.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • On the upcoming flights, the F-15 will be equipped with a shock-sensing probe that will measure the X-59’s shock-wave signature to determine early supersonic performance.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 June 2026
Definition of wave
Adjective
  • Marquinhos — Brazil/PSG The grizzled leader of PSG’s excellent defence occupies a similar role for Brazil, and his partnership with Gabriel will be the foundation for any deep World Cup run.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Watts got another excellent chance in the waning seconds, but the Patriots defense forced the shot to go wide.
    — Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 11 June 2026
Definition of excellent

Browse Nearby Words

sweet tooth
swell
swelled
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Cite this Entry

“Swell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swell. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on swell

Nglish: Translation of swell for Spanish Speakers

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