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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swelled
Lucas Mukasa / Anadolu via Getty Images Angry protests swelled Monday, including in the central town of Nanyuki, which is set to host the quarantine center.
—
Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 2 June 2026
As crowds outside the venue swelled, officials brought in an additional 200 law enforcement officers during the early afternoon.
—Sofia Baltodano, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
Battista’s two-run homer in the second inning opened a 3-0 lead that swelled to 5-1 in the third, when the Wolves chased Yorkville ace Gabe Sanders.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Her siblings swelled with pride, and perhaps a dash of envy.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
The petition has since swelled to more than 3,500 signatures, drawing international support from Javier Bardem, Mark Ruffalo and Ken Loach, among others.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 27 May 2026
Since around 2020, a giant magma chamber has swelled under the Reykjanes Peninsula, the onshore limb of the Reykjanes Ridge, triggering earthquakes and sending lava oozing into the streets.
—Quanta Magazine, 26 May 2026
The knot that swelled on Ray J's head told the story.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
Still, the tight labor market has fueled wage gains that have swelled family budgets, even after accounting for inflation.
—Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 2 June 2026
As crowds outside the venue swelled, officials brought in an additional 200 law enforcement officers during the early afternoon.
—Sofia Baltodano, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
Battista’s two-run homer in the second inning opened a 3-0 lead that swelled to 5-1 in the third, when the Wolves chased Yorkville ace Gabe Sanders.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
Her siblings swelled with pride, and perhaps a dash of envy.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
The petition has since swelled to more than 3,500 signatures, drawing international support from Javier Bardem, Mark Ruffalo and Ken Loach, among others.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 27 May 2026
Since around 2020, a giant magma chamber has swelled under the Reykjanes Peninsula, the onshore limb of the Reykjanes Ridge, triggering earthquakes and sending lava oozing into the streets.
—Quanta Magazine, 26 May 2026
The knot that swelled on Ray J's head told the story.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
Still, the tight labor market has fueled wage gains that have swelled family budgets, even after accounting for inflation.
—Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swelled
Verb
-
Ghirri’s oversize Polaroids, which increased the usual scale of his modest images to roughly tabloid size, were mounted on hefty support columns clad in coir, a jute-like material used for doormats, obviously intended to thwart any suggestion of monumentality.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Local leaders in Greeley say demand for power has increased significantly in recent decades.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
On Tuesday, Anthropic expanded the effort to include 150 organizations in more than 15 countries.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
-
The word also figured heavily in the Alien and Sedition Acts, a set of four 18th century laws that restricted citizenship, expanded the president’s authority to detain and deport foreigners, and criminalized dissenting speech.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The hilt of a sword protruded from his back, snug beside a pack as tight as an angry fist.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Guests arrive at breakfast in white linen shirts and silver Havanas and hang out by the pool drinking bottles of Provencal rose rather than piña coladas.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
But her star rose and that joyful, beautiful, rather guileless young woman trying to stay cool in a hot city summer lives forever.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
This trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
New research suggests that both too little and too much sleep may be linked to accelerated biological aging.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Even at the height of his fame, there were dubious aspects of his personal life — often self-seeded to sustain his enigma — that poked hellified holes in his impermeability as an entertainer.—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
-
In the roadside planters, green sprouts poked up.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Former Secret Service agent Keith Wojcieszek told me that during his 16 years on the job, people routinely climbed over the 6-foot-6-inch perimeter fence.—
Matt Viser,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
-
The father of two climbed into the back of a police SUV in Azusa, where his body was found three days later.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Stocks ended the week higher, boosted by gains in the technology sector and optimism over a ceasefire extension in the Middle East, and all three major market averages scored new intraday and closing records on Friday.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
30 May 2026
-
Additionally, 23andMe struggled to license its tech to pharmaceutical companies, which could have boosted profits.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swelled. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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