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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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
Ashley Capoot,jordan Novet, CNBC, 11 May 2026
And when Jalen Brunson banked in a floater with just under four minutes left in the period — a sequence that sent Maxey into frustration and head coach Nick Nurse calling a timeout — the Knicks’ lead suddenly swelled to 12.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
The group of three children and four adults had been hiking along the water’s edge over the weekend, but became trapped as high tide and a large swell came in, the NSW State Emergency Service confirmed in a statement.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 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
Investors, including Microsoft, have since poured billions of dollars into OpenAI’s for-profit arm, and the company’s valuation has swelled to more than $850 billion.
—Ashley Capoot,jordan Novet, CNBC, 11 May 2026
And when Jalen Brunson banked in a floater with just under four minutes left in the period — a sequence that sent Maxey into frustration and head coach Nick Nurse calling a timeout — the Knicks’ lead suddenly swelled to 12.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Noun
The only swell in the seas up ahead?
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
The group of three children and four adults had been hiking along the water’s edge over the weekend, but became trapped as high tide and a large swell came in, the NSW State Emergency Service confirmed in a statement.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swell
Adjective
-
For a player who isn’t exactly known for his defensive acumen, Dorofeyev made several great defensive plays with his stick.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
Even in the United States, his student turned assistant Henry LeTang became the tap teacher to hundreds, from starlets needing tailoring to the great Gregory Hines.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 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
-
But ultimately, Ayton needs to increase his scoring at the rim, Redick said.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
-
His most fulfilling moment was when the fourth calf was born in the wild last year, an indication that the bongos are thriving in their native habitat and that their population will certainly increase.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
There are numerous suites in the mix that expand upon the space, and anyone booking an executive category room enjoys access to the 25th-floor club lounge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
Together, the movements reflected an apparent effort to insulate some of Iran's remaining military and aviation assets from the expanding conflict, even as officials publicly served as brokers for de-escalation.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Under the flaps of his jacket there was a small tear in his T-shirt, directly over his left nipple, which protruded like a knot of purple rope.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
-
And in turn, the 867-foot monolith protruding from the surrounding Wyoming prairie like the stump of the world’s largest tree became a big draw for tourists.—
Marnie Hunter,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
At the top of the team scoring projections and the timing board, the CIF Southern Section Division 1 swimming championships looked familiar at several spots on Saturday.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
-
The resort unveils new and updated features every year—in 2026, look for Aquavia Lumina, a nighttime walk through a canyon with lights, projections, and music that immerses you in a story world.—
Jess Hoffert,
Midwest Living,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Reed burst onto the movie-criticism scene in the 1960s, and was part of a wave of new reviewers, Pauline Kael among them, who offered a sharper, jazzier alternative to the more staid forms of analysis that had been showcased by major outlets.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
12 May 2026
-
The first wave will cross the area during the afternoon and early evening hours.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Christopher Sanchez has once again been excellent, and Jacob Misiorowski has often looked unhittable with over 14 strikeouts per nine innings.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
-
The excellent, nonprofit gallery and incubator known as PlatteForum has moved around a bit over the years, and will reopen in the Art District on Santa Fe starting June 5.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swell. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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