Synonyms of swell

swell 1 of 3

adjective

1

as in great

of the very best kind

what a swell time we had at the country club dance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• great
• excellent
• terrific
• wonderful
• lovely
• awesome
• superb
• fantastic
• beautiful
• prime
• stellar
• fabulous
• fine
• marvelous
• hot
• cool
• cracking
• neat
• heavenly
• slick
• quality
• immense
• splendid
• famous
• sensational
• brave
• divine
• top
• good
• classic
• dandy
• peachy
• topping
• par excellence
• grand
• mean
• sterling
• banner
• groovy
• superior
• crackerjack
• first-class
• unsurpassed
• first-rate
• superlative
• keen
• gone
• exceptional
• noble
• prize
• too much
• dope
• choice
• bang-up
• fab
• blue-ribbon
• radical
• righteous
• nifty
• down
• dynamite
• capital
• bumper
• top-notch
• gangbusters
• number one
• tip-top
• first-string
• high-class
• out of this world
• supernal
• blue-chip
• corking
• decent
• primo
• top-shelf
• better
• frontline
• bully
• boss
• fantabulous
• boffo
• topflight
• brag
• hype
• out-of-sight
• bonny
• prizewinning
• A-OK
• peachy keen
• wizard
• adequate
• satisfactory
• special
• jim-dandy
• A1
• phat
• acceptable
• tolerable
• top-of-the-line
• passable
• five-star
• all right
• numero uno
• OK
• gilt-edged
• four-star
• classical
• fancy
• traditional
• premium
• high-grade
• select
• high-test
• standard
• superfine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poor
• terrible
• awful
• rotten
• pathetic
• wretched
• vile
• lousy
• atrocious
• bad
• unsatisfactory
• inferior
• low-grade
• substandard
• execrable
• mediocre
• middling
• second-class
• second-rate

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

• happening
• fashionable
• stylish
• chic
• fresh
• exclusive
• hip
• cool
• swish
• elegant
• smart
• sharp
• supercool
• modish
• trendy
• voguish
• handsome
• in
• snappy
• graceful
• au courant
• haute
• sophisticated
• funky
• dashing
• à la mode
• kicky
• spiffy
• saucy
• downtown
• natty
• spruce
• flossy
• rakish
• swank
• dapper
• sassy
• edgy
• majestic
• posh
• classy
• gallant
• tasteful
• ritzy
• chichi
• dressy
• nobby
• doggy
• doggish
• foppish
• soigné
• refined
• understated
• ultrahip
• ultrasmart
• flashy
• dandyish
• ultrasophisticated
• ultracool
• dudish
• stately
• ultrachic
• ultraposh

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• out
• unfashionable
• unattractive
• outmoded
• uncool
• unbecoming
• tacky
• cheesy
• dowdy
• wrinkled
• sloppy
• tasteless
• messy
• slovenly
• inelegant
• trashy
• unchic
• untidy
• unkempt
• unstylish
• graceless
• unmodish
• rumpled
• styleless
• disheveled
• unhandsome
• shabby
• frowsy
• mussy
• sleazy

swell

2 of 3

verb

ˈswel 

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

• increase
• rise
• accelerate
• expand
• climb
• multiply
• intensify
• wax
• accumulate
• spread
• proliferate
• surge
• roll up
• boom
• escalate
• enlarge
• gain
• balloon
• mount
• appreciate
• jump
• snowball
• build up
• burgeon
• heighten
• mushroom
• skyrocket
• peak
• rocket
• bulk
• inflate
• distend
• redouble
• puff (up)
• blow up
• crest
• crescendo

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decrease
• diminish
• recede
• lessen
• contract
• dwindle
• wane

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• increase
• expand
• accelerate
• boost
• augment
• raise
• multiply
• extend
• stoke
• intensify
• enhance
• add (to)
• amplify
• reinforce
• escalate
• enlarge
• aggrandize
• maximize
• strengthen
• up
• build up
• compound
• pump up
• hype
• supersize
• skyrocket
• inflate
• spike
• jump
• boom
• distend
• heighten
• dilate
• develop
• stretch
• supplement
• lengthen
• draw out
• elongate
• bump (up)
• prolong
• blow up
• magnify
• complement
• accumulate
• flesh (out)
• protract
• ratchet (up)
• amass
• beef (up)
• rachet (up)
• collect
• parlay
• follow up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reduce
• decrease
• diminish
• dwindle
• lessen
• abate
• lower
• downsize
• subtract (from)
• shorten
• curtail
• abbreviate
• abridge
• minify
• compress
• constrict
• contract
• condense
• de-escalate
• cut back
• retrench

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

• protrude
• bulge
• poke
• stand out
• jut
• project
• overhang
• stick out
• bunch
• balloon
• billow
• pout
• pouch
• start
• beetle
• belly
• pooch
• dome
• extend
• inflate
• bag
• stretch
• dilate
• distend
• lengthen
• expand
• blow up
• elongate
• snowball
• mushroom

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shrink
• contract
• compress
• condense
• constrict

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• projection
• bulge
• section
• dome
• protuberance
• protrusion
• overhang
• swelling
• convexity
• expansion
• portion
• jut
• piece
• block
• knot
• bunch
• lump
• bump
• puff
• increase
• dilatation
• snag
• knob
• mound
• hill
• blob
• hump
• enlargement
• escalation
• nub
• gibbosity
• obtrusion
• knurl

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cavity
• depression
• pit
• well
• hollow
• dent
• hole
• recess
• valley
• basin
• bowl
• indentation
• dip
• crater
• concave
• concavity
• indenture
• impression
• dint
• trough
• pocket
• groove
• indent
• trench
• furrow
• notch
• gouge
• dimple

2

as in wave

a moving ridge on the surface of water

huge swells overwhelmed the tiny craft

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wave
• surge
• billow
• tsunami
• ripple
• surf
• curl
• sea(s)
• breaker
• whitecap
• ground swell
• roller
• comber
• riffle
• tidal wave
• wavelet

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

Recent Examples of swell

Adjective

Don’t get me wrong — if crystals and candles work for you, that’s swell. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026

Other impacts from the big waves include San Onofre State Beach shutting down the dirt parking lot that lines its Surf Beach, with authorities waiting for the swell and high tides to pass. — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 18 June 2026

Verb

Without hesitation, Gardner stepped in to help, despite the fact that the paint and adhesives made his body swell and blister the following day. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2026

For the latter group, the images that define Brown are the photos from 2009 of his then-girlfriend Rihanna, her face swollen and bloody from Brown punching her in a car following a pre–Grammy Awards party. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026

Noun

The remnants of that storm also are causing big swells of waves in the ocean, and those are expected to keep having an impact on Bay Area beaches. — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026

The storm could generate strong swells for portions of Mexico’s southwestern coast and Baja California through the weekend, and perhaps Southern California, too, according to the hurricane center. — Denise Chow, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026