Synonyms of swelled

swelled

verb

past tense of swell

1

as in increased

to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number

the club membership has really swelled in recent months

Synonyms & Similar Words

• increased
• rose
• expanded
• accelerated
• climbed
• multiplied
• ballooned
• intensified
• waxed
• mushroomed
• surged
• boomed
• accumulated
• proliferated
• enlarged
• escalated
• mounted
• spread
• gained
• snowballed
• rolled up
• jumped
• burgeoned
• appreciated
• skyrocketed
• built up
• heightened
• rocketed
• peaked
• inflated
• redoubled
• distended
• crested
• puffed (up)
• crescendoed
• bulked
• blew up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decreased
• diminished
• contracted
• lessened
• receded
• dwindled
• waned

2

as in expanded

to make greater in size, amount, or number

more layoffs will swell the ranks of the unemployed to unprecedented levels

Synonyms & Similar Words

• increased
• expanded
• accelerated
• boosted
• augmented
• multiplied
• raised
• extended
• enlarged
• intensified
• escalated
• amplified
• compounded
• enhanced
• reinforced
• added (to)
• strengthened
• stoked
• upped
• hyped
• maximized
• aggrandized
• built up
• skyrocketed
• pumped up
• boomed
• jumped
• supersized
• inflated
• supplemented
• spiked
• stretched
• heightened
• distended
• lengthened
• developed
• dilated
• prolonged
• elongated
• magnified
• complemented
• bumped (up)
• drew out
• protracted
• accumulated
• amassed
• blew up
• fleshed (out)
• collected
• ratcheted (up)
• parlayed
• beefed (up)
• racheted (up)
• followed up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reduced
• decreased
• diminished
• dwindled
• lowered
• lessened
• abated
• downsized
• subtracted (from)
• curtailed
• shortened
• abbreviated
• abridged
• compressed
• contracted
• condensed
• constricted
• minified
• de-escalated
• cut back
• retrenched

3

as in protruded

to extend outward beyond a usual point

at that point the Congo River swells and forms Malebo Pool

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protruded
• poked
• bulged
• ballooned
• jutted
• projected
• billowed
• stood out
• bunched
• overhung
• stuck out
• pouted
• started
• bellied
• pouched
• beetled
• pooched
• extended
• stretched
• inflated
• lengthened
• bagged
• mushroomed
• distended
• dilated
• expanded
• snowballed
• domed
• elongated
• blew up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• contracted
• compressed
• condensed
• shrank
• constricted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of swelled

The man — holding one bladed weapon in each hand — responded by walking down 41st Avenue away from a growing mass of officers, which quickly swelled from just a couple to at least 10. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

As her pregnancy progressed, Kabita’s belly swelled while the rest of her remained gaunt. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

Resentment swelled among the aristocrats, who had no desire to be grouped with the Judenseite (Jewish side). — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

According to the records, the downtown Los Angeles district’s homeless population swelled last year by more than 800 people, an increase of 24%. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

The project’s ambitions swelled like a tick on a dog’s belly. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

But when the trickle of interest became a flood, and when the proposals swelled from small data centers to massive hyperscale complexes, concerned residents began speaking out. — Jason Bailey, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2026

In the mid-20th century, Anglican congregations in Kenya swelled in size because of the East African Revival movement. — Stephanie Triplettall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Rowan ascended to the CEO role in 2021, and the company’s assets have swelled to over $1 trillion earlier this year. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing swelled

• swelled head