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swell

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verb

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swell

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noun

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
Infatuated with the sport, Webster moved to Sonoma County in 1973 and began surfing every day in 1975 during a storm swell off the California coast. Sean Neumann, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Someone paying $200 a month could see their bill swell to $350. Ashley Lutz, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
For this test, a doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to feel for swelling, bleeding, and any prostate abnormalities. Mark Gurarie, Health, 12 Sep. 2025 Surgeons removed the left half of her skull to give her brain the room required to swell, Galicich said. Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
The sight of Morro Rock has greeted countless visitors to this part of California’s Central Coast for centuries, from the European explorers who came to the area enticed by its calm waters, to the modern-day surfers who ride the swells that break outside the bay. Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025 While most technology leaders have done their fair share to dispel these myths in favor of AI’s transformative potential, concerns of misinformation, security vulnerabilities and unpredictability still hum beneath the unstoppable swell of AI innovation. Monish Darda, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swell
Adjective
  • Another great addition is live captions and translation.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Praise feels great, ridicule or people not liking it doesn't.
    Steve Baltin, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • What was once a sleepy college town next to a railroad stop is now one of the most happening cities in the state of Texas.
    Craig Hlavaty, Houston Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2018
Verb
  • Start with once daily, and if your skin can handle it, gradually increase to two or three times per week.
    Lily Wohlner, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • When a La Niña phase occurs, less wind shear occurs in the regions of the Atlantic basin where tropical weather develops, increasing the potential for more storms, AccuWeather said.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Under the agreement, Cracker Barrel expanded its board from 10 to 11 members and appointed Jody Bilney, one of Biglari’s preferred nominees, as an independent director.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Among them are Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia's growing threat to NATO's eastern flank and the war in Gaza, where Israel's offensive on Gaza City is expanding as the two leaders meet.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The display bezels are super thin at the top and on both sides, with Lenovo’s protruding upper-edge notch housing the webcam and other electronics.
    Mark Coppock, PC Magazine, 11 Sep. 2025
  • That is followed by a tabletop planetarium featuring images of planets beamed onto moving objects which magically protrude from it.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Its interactive projections can show what a child experiences when entering the tube of an MRI machine or enable practitioners to find hazards in their patients' homes.
    Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
  • At the current high multiple, that translates to about $6–7 billion in profits, or roughly $16 billion in revenue, assuming a 40% net margin—a target consistent with long-term projections.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But the new wave of disavowals represents the latest sign that the conflict, which has killed thousands of Palestinians, has become polarizing within the mainstream of the party.
    David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In the Atlantic, a tropical wave is forecast to emerge off the west African coast in the next couple of days.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Harry Dean Stanton is excellent.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Moisture recovery ranged from good to excellent, with morning relative humidity levels between 55% and 88%.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Swell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swell. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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