SWELLING (UP) Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

swelling (up)

verb

Definition of swelling (up)

present participle of swell (up)

as in beefing (up)

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for swelling (up)

Verb

Future development will focus on improving their autonomy, increasing operating speeds, and enabling them to work alongside humans with less supervision.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
Dangerously large breaking waves can overpower swimmers, pulling people into the sea from beaches, jetties, and rocks resulting in significant physical injury and increasing the risk of drowning.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of increasing

Verb

Those promises include affordability, with the cost-of-living escalating and, to the extent there was an abuse of power, dealing with it.

— Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026
The escalating protests come just a week after Gary Neville, a former United player and one of the most prominent pundits in the sport, called for the Glazers to sell their stake.

— Zahin Das, NBC news, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of escalating

Verb

Then there's the long-standing fascination with augmenting human capabilities with electronics.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
After principal photography wrapped, many months would be spent in post-production augmenting the voices to create the right tone and weave them into the overall soundscape.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of augmenting

Verb

Those options reportedly include tighter economic sanctions and expanding restrictions on Iranian trade.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
At a hearing last week, as Assembly committee discussed measures including eliminating the $750 million cap, allowing above-the-line expenses, expanding eligibility, and extending the sunset date.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of expanding

Verb

France's main unions warned that the country is on the brink of recession and that layoff plans are multiplying.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
Unions aim to send a warning France’s main unions warned that the country is on the brink of recession and that layoff plans are multiplying.

— Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of multiplying

Verb

Monday’s procedure involved inserting a screw in Brown’s neck to stabilize the stress fracture and improve circulation to the area.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026
In that case, prosecutors say Morrow performed multiple procedures she was not licensed to perform, including administering medication, inserting a catheter, and performing a manual uterine procedure.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2026

Definition of inserting

Verb

Despite these measures, only 54 percent of small business owners feel confident their operations can absorb a sudden shock from compounding tariff and inflation costs.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2026
Analysts warn that given the accelerating pace of technological disruption, ultra long maturities make predicting future operational stability and debt service capacity increasingly difficult, compounding risk evaluation challenges for investors.

— , CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of compounding

Verb

In addition to presenting works by company artists-in-residence, father and son Yanis and Yanis Eric Pikieris, Dimensions has brought in dance makers from across the United States, amplifying their reach and our perspective.

— Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2026
The Rosses eventually undertook a major redesign in 2002, with a goal of amplifying the scale for their family, which included twins just under 2 years old, without diluting the home’s authentic soul.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of amplifying

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

swellings

swelling (up)

swells

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Swelling (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swelling%20%28up%29. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of swelling (up)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

lissome

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes