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
Waves along the Bay Area coast swelled higher than normal, and king tides continued to push coastal waters higher onto the shore than normal Thursday.
—
Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Sherrill will inherit a state budget that swelled under Murphy, who delivered on promises to fund the public worker pension fund and a K-12 school aid formula after years of neglect under previous governors, by high income taxes on the wealthy.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
The conversation swelled, spilled over, and soon enough, the president and the vice-president of the United States were using it as culture war ammunition.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
The labor action, which started in September, reportedly swelled up to roughly 200 dockworkers at the port over the weekend.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
Heather Lapre, who manages the Grand Canyon Food Pantry, told Outside that the number of people arriving at the food bank has swelled since October 14, which is when NPS paychecks were last delivered to many workers.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 30 Oct. 2025
But as the Chiefs’ lead swelled in the second half, Washington abandoned the run.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Flat or oddly shaped sides mean the arils inside the fruit have swelled with juice, transforming the fruit's form.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 27 Oct. 2025
Afterward, Tharp joined Copeland on stage, a bouquet of flowers in hand — the first of many, many colleagues and collaborators emerging from the wings to congratulate Copeland, as golden confetti rained down and the pile of bouquets on the stage swelled.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Sherrill will inherit a state budget that swelled under Murphy, who delivered on promises to fund the public worker pension fund and a K-12 school aid formula after years of neglect under previous governors, by high income taxes on the wealthy.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
The conversation swelled, spilled over, and soon enough, the president and the vice-president of the United States were using it as culture war ammunition.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
The labor action, which started in September, reportedly swelled up to roughly 200 dockworkers at the port over the weekend.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
Heather Lapre, who manages the Grand Canyon Food Pantry, told Outside that the number of people arriving at the food bank has swelled since October 14, which is when NPS paychecks were last delivered to many workers.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 30 Oct. 2025
But as the Chiefs’ lead swelled in the second half, Washington abandoned the run.
—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Flat or oddly shaped sides mean the arils inside the fruit have swelled with juice, transforming the fruit's form.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 27 Oct. 2025
Afterward, Tharp joined Copeland on stage, a bouquet of flowers in hand — the first of many, many colleagues and collaborators emerging from the wings to congratulate Copeland, as golden confetti rained down and the pile of bouquets on the stage swelled.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swelled
Verb
-
The number of homebuyers taking out VA loans also increased in August, rising 3 percent year-over-year nationwide—bucking the trend observed for conventional loans, which declined 9 percent year-over-year in the same month.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The area increased to 80% by 2018, according to state media, after numerous buildings and city walls were restored, and 135 temporary structures inside the compound were torn down.—
Fred He,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
One Beijing site, which expanded by nearly 50% since 2020, is involved in the production of the vaunted DF-26 medium-range ballistic missile, according to the China Aerospace Studies Institute.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Since then, Butterfly World expanded to include two aviaries for tropical birds and an interactive lorikeet encounter area.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Spider-y lash extensions protruded from her lash line, reaching to the bottom of her brows; a thin wing of black liner was drawn from the outer corners of her eyes.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
22 Oct. 2025
-
His bones visibly protruded from his thin skin, according to court documents.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Taking a glance at global markets overnight, Asia-Pacific markets rose, tracking Wall Street gains after AMD’s third-quarter earnings beat lifted artificial intelligence stocks.—
Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The figure rose to a record high of 55 percent in 2022 and 2023.—
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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To address these gaps, the researchers recommend accelerated stability testing based on International Electrotechnical Commission standards.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The Clockwork manicure was not as comprehensive as what 10Beauty looks to deliver, though absorbing the company’s data has accelerated 10Beauty’s own device and helped the company better understand what will and won’t work in autonomous services.—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Whoopi Goldberg, Emily Blunt and Natasha Lyonne were among the stars expressing their outrage, while Ryan Reynolds poked fun at Tilly in his new Mint Mobile ad.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
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Low branches poked at the roof of our boat and brushed our arms.—
Idra Novey,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The majority of the deportees, however, walked out of the reception center and climbed back onto the same buses that brought them from the airport.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
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Pretty cut and dry on the surface, but how Colorado has climbed to the top of the standings might give some people pause about making that statement.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This year, organizers had an onsite medical staff boosted by a nursing station sponsored by Cheer Home Care.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
For the air traffic controllers at work, deliveries of food and coffee from flight attendants and a pilot association boosted morale this week.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swelled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swelled. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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