as in lump
a small rounded mass of swollen tissue
the swelling at the site of the insect bite was not too concerning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in surging
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in increasing
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the club membership has really swelled in recent months
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accelerating
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 protruding
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of swelling
Christina Manian, Health, 29 May 2026
The 32-year-old officer suffered minor pain and swelling, police said.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026
Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Another effective anti-swelling remedy is a delicious snack that may be hiding in the fridge.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 Oct. 2025
Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2026
But most senior travelers have a higher risk of swelling and suffering from deep vein thrombosis while flying.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for swelling
Noun
Consuming gluten with a wheat allergy may result in vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, nasal congestion, hives, swelling, and even life-threatening anaphylactic shock.
—Christina Manian, Health, 29 May 2026
The 32-year-old officer suffered minor pain and swelling, police said.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026
Adjective
The hope was this would mean less swelling, less pain and, potentially, a significantly faster recovery.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Another effective anti-swelling remedy is a delicious snack that may be hiding in the fridge.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
The grant program grew exponentially under President Joe Biden, swelling to almost $455 million in 2024.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2026
But most senior travelers have a higher risk of swelling and suffering from deep vein thrombosis while flying.
—Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for swelling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swelling
Noun
-
When Bromley instead cast her as Betty Parris, the girl possessed by an evil spirit, as if to punish her for being Christian, a lump persisted in her throat all day.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Other minor risks include scrotum congestion (a sense of discomfort or pressure that usually resolves over time) and sperm granuloma (a non-dangerous lump that the body usually absorbs) and pain, the clinic adds.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The pacemaker transformed cardiac medicine by dramatically increasing survival rates for patients with arrhythmias and heart block, becoming one of the most important life-saving medical technologies ever created.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
-
Rain and storm chances are increasing in the afternoon.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Instead of retreating from global trade, many small and mid-sized companies are leaning in and even accelerating global expansion.—
Greg Hewitt,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
As management teams navigate geopolitical turbulence, persistent inflation, and accelerating AI adoption, large companies are turning increasingly to partnerships with smaller firms — often through corporate venture arrangements.—
Serguei Netessine,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Elsewhere on the trophy, there are the original rules to soccer, from 1863, which include a proscription on players having nails, iron plates, or gutta-percha—a Malaysian rubberlike material, now used in root canals—protruding from their boots.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
The cups also feature a more angular design, visibly protruding rather than gradually curving.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Several police officers and security personnel also sustained cuts and bruises during the incidents.—
Sofia Baltodano,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
-
May 26 sports commentary Hey, Sean Keeler, Kiss every bruise, interspersing my whooped behind.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Beaufort fortress, perched high atop Lebanon’s rolling green hills and overlooking the Litani River, has been a strategic military asset for centuries.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 May 2026
-
Fenix hit a rolling cutter for a nearfall.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The efforts highlight Son’s growing ambitions to secure data center bases in major locations across the globe as AI companies race to acquire sufficient computing power and meet rising demand for their services.—
Benoit Berthelot,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
-
On the other hand, when prices are high and rising, voters may not particularly care about things like Talarico's meat consumption, says Cliff Walker, who works at a Texas progressive strategy firm.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
That could result in a BLEVE, or boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion, which would have caused widespread damage and released toxic material into the air.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2026
-
Shutto, a luxury shuttle service, is expanding into Dallas ahead of the tournament.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swelling. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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