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

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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
Along the coast, a different danger is lurking — a south swell bringing with it elevated surf up to 6 feet high and rip currents. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025 Yoko, the swell shark, hatched at the Shreveport Aquarium earlier this month in a habitat without any males, launching a mystery. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 29 Jan. 2025
Verb
Earlier this month, as anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles began to swell in size and fury, the Department of Homeland Security posted a video of an immigration raid in El Monte, California. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 20 June 2025 Feel how John Williams’ theme, just two notes swelling into nightmare, does half the killing. —Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 19 June 2025
Noun
In 2019, a year after swells of protests swept through universities in Chile, a group of women, many of them blindfolded, took over the streets of Valparaiso, a coastal city in the country, to dance and sing a song that would go on to become an anthem. —Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 25 May 2025 The day passes uneventfully — though the swell makes waters choppy, guests are still able to enjoy the water toys. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2025 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
  • That could mean even greater affordability for smaller businesses adopting AI for their businesses.
    — Bernice Ooi, CNBC, 26 June 2025
  • Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, a group that encourages civilian patrol of the streets, has identified himself as an anti-Trump Republican who wants greater safety in the city.
    — Solcyré Burga, Time, 25 June 2025
Definition of great
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
Definition of happening
Verb
  • Ratcliffe has since increased his stake to nearly 30 per cent after spending a further $300m on new shares.
    — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 19 June 2025
  • The gap between the top 75th percentile and the bottom 25th percentile performers increased by 1.5 times in Q1 2025 compared to a year earlier, with market leaders continuing to charge ahead while the bottom 20% to 30% of the sector continued to report a reduction in growth.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 June 2025
Definition of increase
Verb
  • Most significantly, 62% say their responsibilities have expanded significantly beyond their core reporting roles, with 37% reporting layoffs or buyouts at their organizations in the past year.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Hackers over the years have expanded their target list to include cities and municipalities, hospitals, hotels and casinos, as reported by CBS News' 60 Minutes.
    — Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 20 June 2025
Definition of expand
Verb
  • The first-gen roam the mainland naked because of the idea that their clothes disintegrated long ago, and their appearances are characterized by veins that protrude from their body in revolting knots.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 20 June 2025
  • After making sure the point is protruding slightly from one side of the bait, take the extra few seconds to remove scales all around the point.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • Some estimates put the racing movie’s launch at around $50 million to $60 million, but some projections are softer at $35 million to $40 million.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 27 June 2025
  • This projection makes its current trailing P/E ratio of 62 appear justifiable, particularly if the company can achieve those targets.
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Definition of projection
Noun
  • Conquering the Pacer comeback wave feels like the final breakthrough.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 June 2025
  • The next big wave of digital transformation is being driven by agentic AI.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Definition of wave
Adjective
  • But that year does look a little anomalous on his career ledger, with more of an 80-point baseline (which, of course, is still excellent).
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 17 June 2025
  • With continued success from not only Tucker, but the entire Cubs lineup as a whole, Chicago has an excellent chance of making a deep postseason run toward the World Series.
    — Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
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 2 Jul. 2025.

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