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
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Recent Examples of swelling
Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
Pay attention, however, to warning signs such as numbness, tingling, sharp pain, or next-day joint swelling, Wickham added.
—Danielle Zickl, Health, 26 Feb. 2026
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 Oct. 2025
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2026
While investors had broadly praised Abel's first annual shareholder letter for reaffirming Berkshire's long-standing culture of financial strength and disciplined investing, some had hoped for more aggressive signals on capital deployment given the company's swelling cash balance.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swelling
Noun
The reason education, skills and training are important is that injections are inherently dangerous, risking bleeding, bruising, swelling and infection.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
Pay attention, however, to warning signs such as numbness, tingling, sharp pain, or next-day joint swelling, Wickham added.
—Danielle Zickl, Health, 26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Another effective anti-swelling remedy is a delicious snack that may be hiding in the fridge.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
When the show arrived at the Orpheum last November, it came refreshed and redesigned but glitzy as ever, with the chandelier swinging above and the orchestra swelling below.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2026
While investors had broadly praised Abel's first annual shareholder letter for reaffirming Berkshire's long-standing culture of financial strength and disciplined investing, some had hoped for more aggressive signals on capital deployment given the company's swelling cash balance.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for swelling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swelling
Noun
-
My son, a lump of breath that fell into the world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
And while some can work magic with a claw clip, others struggle to avoid lumps and bumps without invoking gels and wax.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The series became a bestselling book, increasing Anderson’s profile as an incisive commentator with biting wit but very little malice.—
Jessica Lipsky,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
With tax incentives reduced and competition increasing, analysts expect EV sales growth in China to slow.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Multiple sub-Saharan African countries had seen credit-rating upgrades in recent months thanks to improving fiscal situations, falling global interest rates, and accelerating economic growth.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Destroying Iran’s missile threat Israeli intelligence assessments before the operation indicated Iran was accelerating its ballistic missile production with plans to reach 8,000 missiles by 2027.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The jaguar growled, whirled and bit off the protruding head of the arrow.—
Delbert L. Chears,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Photos throughout the years show Maxwell's dark thin eyebrows, slightly protruding ears and thin lips that have a distinct shape when at rest.—
Layla Ferris,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Another mother, Janice Degonda, told the court that her then 5-month-old daughter came home with bruises to her leg, groin and elsewhere in July 2024.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
6 Mar. 2026
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Burns did not sustain any serious injuries and was able to walk away from the scene with just bruises, the accident report says.—
GMA Team,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The nine engines will be delivered on a rolling basis and mated to the first stage on-site.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
-
That amounts to a decline of 8,087 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per day from the previous 30-day rolling average.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In many of the world’s most intriguing superconducting materials, superconductivity appears only within a curved region of a phase diagram, rising to a peak before fading again.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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Over the past four years, the number of New Zealanders aged 30-50 emigrating has more than doubled – from 18,000 to 43,000 – fueled by rising living costs and a weakening job market, demographers told CNN.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After observing Choe Hyon's sea trials on Tuesday, Kim said the ship met operational requirements and called it a symbol of the country's expanding naval capabilities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
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Ukrainian manufacturers have developed low-cost interceptor drones specifically designed to hunt and destroy Shaheds, and its rapidly expanding drone industry is producing excess capacity.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swelling. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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