Synonyms of swelling

swelling 1 of 3

noun

ˈswe-liŋ 

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

• lump
• bruise
• bump
• nodule
• node
• tumor
• knot
• growth
• blister
• welt
• wart
• contusion
• hunch
• boil
• hump
• chunk
• clump
• knob
• blob
• gob
• nub
• hunk
• wad
• gobbet
• nugget
• clod
• nubble

swelling

2 of 3

adjective

as in surging

Related Words

• surging
• rolling
• rippled
• wavy
• rippling
• undulating
• undulant
• billowing
• undulatory
• rutted
• lopsided
• unaligned
• pocked
• rutty
• pitted
• unbalanced
• knobby
• inexact
• knobbly
• knurled
• nubby
• nubbly
• knurly

Dissimilar Words

• uniform
• exact
• true
• regular
• vertical
• aligned
• horizontal
• straight
• smooth
• level
• flat
• even
• tabular
• flush
• plumb
• plane

swelling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of swell

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

• increasing
• rising
• accelerating
• expanding
• climbing
• intensifying
• multiplying
• waxing
• ballooning
• escalating
• spreading
• accumulating
• enlarging
• mushrooming
• proliferating
• surging
• snowballing
• mounting
• booming
• burgeoning
• rolling up
• gaining
• jumping
• appreciating
• heightening
• skyrocketing
• building up
• distending
• rocketing
• peaking
• inflating
• redoubling
• puffing (up)
• bulking
• cresting
• blowing up
• crescendoing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decreasing
• diminishing
• contracting
• lessening
• receding
• waning
• dwindling

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

• increasing
• accelerating
• expanding
• augmenting
• boosting
• multiplying
• raising
• extending
• escalating
• enhancing
• enlarging
• intensifying
• adding (to)
• compounding
• strengthening
• stoking
• reinforcing
• amplifying
• maximizing
• pumping up
• upping
• aggrandizing
• building up
• hyping
• skyrocketing
• distending
• lengthening
• stretching
• spiking
• supersizing
• dilating
• heightening
• inflating
• booming
• jumping
• bumping (up)
• supplementing
• developing
• elongating
• prolonging
• ratcheting (up)
• drawing out
• magnifying
• blowing up
• accumulating
• complementing
• fleshing (out)
• protracting
• racheting (up)
• beefing (up)
• amassing
• collecting
• following up
• parlaying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reducing
• decreasing
• diminishing
• lessening
• lowering
• dwindling
• downsizing
• subtracting (from)
• abating
• shortening
• curtailing
• abridging
• contracting
• minifying
• compressing
• abbreviating
• constricting
• condensing
• de-escalating
• cutting back
• retrenching

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

• protruding
• poking
• bulging
• jutting
• ballooning
• standing out
• billowing
• overhanging
• pouting
• sticking out
• projecting
• bellying
• bunching
• pouching
• pooching
• starting
• beetling
• bagging
• lengthening
• stretching
• extending
• doming
• distending
• dilating
• inflating
• expanding
• mushrooming
• snowballing
• elongating
• blowing up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shrinking
• contracting
• compressing
• condensing
• constricting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of swelling

Noun

Per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall currently has knee swelling and receiver Christian Kirk injured his calf in the 49ers’ first practice. — Trevor Woods, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

The team said all options are being considered for Pearsall’s knee swelling, which could include surgery that could leave him out indefinitely. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 31 July 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

At a certain point, however, a swelling retirement account isn’t really about retirement. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026

An eye edema is swelling in part of the eye caused by a buildup of excess fluid, which can affect vision and may result from injury, inflammation, infection or underlying medical conditions. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Aug. 2026