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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in expanded
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 protruded
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

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 swelled The ranks of the protesters have also swelled to include some more opportunistic looters and agitators. — Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 19 Oct. 2026 Piper Sandler’s annual teen survey — polling 9,000 teens across 47 states — shows overall beauty spend swelled 7 percent this year, with growth across all key categories, including cosmetics, skin care, hair and fragrance. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 Last spring’s event swelled by roughly 10% in both attendance and revenue over the previous year, setting new high marks, Treefort co-founder Eric Gilbert told the Idaho Statesman. — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2026 Stein’s reputation as a coach and manager of players swelled. — Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 In extremely short order, the Belgian designer filled them and more, cresting the wave of growth that swelled across luxury between 2016 and 2023 (via the Covid slump). — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026 Fiscal, political risks French borrowing costs have jumped amid concerns over its national debt, which has swelled due to tax cuts, spikes in energy costs linked to the Iran war and stagnating economic growth. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 Further east, in the coastal province of Rayong abutting a major industrial belt, authorities ordered evacuations on Monday after flood waters swelled two reservoirs beyond their capacity. — Reuters, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026 In 2023, one of the wettest years in decades, the San Joaquin swelled to four miles wide at the site. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swelled
  1. increased
  2. expanded
  3. protruded
  4. rose
  5. accelerated
  6. poked
  7. climbed
  8. boosted
Verb
  • During a July 27 Highfill Water and Sewer Committee meeting, Kahrl reported the number of active water meters in the city increased from 2,077 to 2,285 over 12 months.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • More recently, the evolution of AI has increased the ease with which these websites can be populated with content, eliminating the need to pay writers and automating the production of social media posts.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of increased
Verb
  • But the lead quickly expanded in the second half, thanks to a 15-0 run by Charlotte, which lasted nearly three minutes and was capped off by Allen’s three-pointer.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Development began in the 1970s, and the system became operational for military use before civilian access expanded.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of expanded
Verb
  • The semiaquatic predator’s eyes would have also protruded from the skull, similar to the Indian gharial, because the eye sockets were raised like a telescope, Burke added.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The stranger’s hollow cheeks, his dark eyes, whose lashes always appeared wet, the bony shoulders that protruded from the singlet Chee Meng had lent him—all of it frightened Shawn.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of protruded
Verb
  • During Lula's first two terms in office, from 2003 to 2010, Brazil's economy boomed, and millions of Brazilians rose out of poverty.
    — Catherine Osborn, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Was the last petal from the enchanted rose about to fall, this beauty of a season due to turn ugly?
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of rose
Verb
  • The vehicle then accelerated forward, and Foster moved directly in front of it with his gun drawn.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The focus on fraud has noticeably accelerated in the weeks leading up to the election.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of accelerated
Verb
  • Kessler, standing nearby during Williams’ postgame news conference, poked his head out from behind a black curtain and gave his teammate a thumbs-up.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Already poked, the league bear hasn’t exactly gone into hibernation, either.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of poked
Verb
  • The outbreak remains concentrated in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, where cases have climbed from 177 to 352.
    — Alex DeLuca, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The scouts said the object climbed quickly before appearing to disintegrate.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of climbed
Verb
  • Swedish defense giant Saab reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings and revenue on Friday, as new orders more than tripled from a year earlier, boosted by a deal to supply Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Behind-the-scenes engineering modifications over the last year have boosted not only the attraction’s reliability, but allowed its capacity to increase by about 125 people per hour.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of boosted

Phrases Containing swelled

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swell
swelled
swelled head
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Cite this Entry

“Swelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swelled. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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