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
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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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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
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
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
As acne develops through inflammation, the practice of acupressure is used to reduce swelling and encourage blood circulation.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 May 2026
ABC News, 27 May 2026
Mahan, a former tech executive, entered the governor’s race in January with little name recognition but a swell of support from Silicon Valley moguls.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 May 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
Once the cuticle lifts, moisture from the air can enter the hair shaft, causing strands to swell and look puffy or unruly.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
As acne develops through inflammation, the practice of acupressure is used to reduce swelling and encourage blood circulation.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 May 2026
Noun
González pledged to help northern towns including Loiza, where people have been evacuated and chunks of asphalt from coastal roads have tumbled into the ocean following heavy swells.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Mahan, a former tech executive, entered the governor’s race in January with little name recognition but a swell of support from Silicon Valley moguls.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for swell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swell
Adjective
-
Monroe’s image-making Monroe always had greater agency over her still images than her moving images, which were largely determined by the film studios and directors.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
In performance and direction, and in the small ways in which Caswell and Wills have plotted out this isolated love story, there’s a level of great richness and detail.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
3 June 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
-
Since then, the damage has increased at an alarming rate, and many residents fear the end is near for the 53-year-old structure.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
-
The recent strikes have increased the strain on the fragile truce between Washington and Tehran.—
Dalia Abdelwahab,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The deal with Curry, who is a household name in China, is expected to further boost Li-Ning’s popularity in the country and help expand the brand’s market share in the US.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
By greatly expanding the dimensions of his images, with their muted palettes, tight cropping, found symmetries, and laconic wit, had the maestro of the photographic epigram betrayed his subtractive aesthetic?—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Elsewhere on the trophy, there are the original rules to soccer, from 1863, which include a proscription on players having nails, iron plates, or gutta-percha—a Malaysian rubberlike material, now used in root canals—protruding from their boots.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
The cups also feature a more angular design, visibly protruding rather than gradually curving.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
In January, an anti-ICE projection was reposted by Don Lemon to millions of views, and even CNN came calling.—
Oren Peleg,
HollywoodReporter,
6 June 2026
-
That meeting will also include the release of the next summary of economic projections.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
Playa Vik sits directly on Playa Mansa, on downtown José Ignacio’s western edge, facing calm waters and long, romantic stretches of sand where you’re bound to see more birds, more waves than people.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The voice was faint and rasping, like the sound of pebbles raked by a wave.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
There are beautiful lake-side beaches and excellent trout fishing.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
-
The jury, under the excellent presidency of Park Chan-wook, who was both generous and confident, had extremely varied and highly democratic debates.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swell. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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