Synonyms of swells

swells 1 of 2

noun

plural of swell

1

as in projections

a part that sticks out from the general mass of something

the graceful swell of the bottle was meant to be evocative of the female figure

Synonyms & Similar Words

• projections
• bulges
• sections
• protuberances
• protrusions
• overhangs
• domes
• juts
• portions
• convexities
• pieces
• swellings
• blocks
• knots
• expansions
• bumps
• puffs
• snags
• increases
• lumps
• bunches
• hills
• mounds
• knobs
• humps
• dilatations
• blobs
• escalations
• obtrusions
• enlargements
• knurls
• gibbosities
• nubs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pits
• cavities
• depressions
• hollows
• wells
• holes
• dents
• recesses
• valleys
• indentations
• craters
• dips
• basins
• bowls
• concavities
• indentures
• concaves
• indents
• grooves
• troughs
• pockets
• dints
• trenches
• furrows
• impressions
• notches
• dimples
• gouges

2

as in waves

a moving ridge on the surface of water

huge swells overwhelmed the tiny craft

Synonyms & Similar Words

• waves
• seas
• surges
• billows
• tsunamis
• ripples
• curls
• breakers
• whitecaps
• surfs
• rollers
• wavelets
• combers
• riffles
• tidal waves
• ground swells

swells

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of swell

1

as in increases

to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number

the club membership has really swelled in recent months

Synonyms & Similar Words

• increases
• rises
• accelerates
• expands
• climbs
• intensifies
• multiplies
• waxes
• surges
• accumulates
• proliferates
• spreads
• enlarges
• booms
• escalates
• mushrooms
• snowballs
• burgeons
• mounts
• jumps
• rolls up
• gains
• appreciates
• balloons
• builds up
• heightens
• distends
• inflates
• peaks
• skyrockets
• redoubles
• rockets
• crests
• bulks
• puffs (up)
• crescendoes
• blows up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decreases
• diminishes
• recedes
• wanes
• lessens
• contracts
• dwindles

2

as in expands

to make greater in size, amount, or number

more layoffs will swell the ranks of the unemployed to unprecedented levels

Synonyms & Similar Words

• increases
• expands
• accelerates
• boosts
• augments
• raises
• multiplies
• extends
• intensifies
• amplifies
• enlarges
• enhances
• stokes
• adds (to)
• escalates
• reinforces
• ups
• maximizes
• strengthens
• aggrandizes
• compounds
• builds up
• hypes
• supersizes
• inflates
• jumps
• distends
• dilates
• pumps up
• spikes
• booms
• stretches
• develops
• heightens
• lengthens
• elongates
• magnifies
• skyrockets
• supplements
• prolongs
• bumps (up)
• draws out
• accumulates
• complements
• blows up
• protracts
• collects
• fleshes (out)
• ratchets (up)
• amasses
• rachets (up)
• beefs (up)
• follows up
• parlays

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decreases
• reduces
• diminishes
• dwindles
• abates
• lessens
• lowers
• downsizes
• subtracts (from)
• shortens
• curtails
• abbreviates
• compresses
• minifies
• abridges
• constricts
• condenses
• de-escalates
• contracts
• retrenches
• cuts back

3

as in protrudes

to extend outward beyond a usual point

at that point the Congo River swells and forms Malebo Pool

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protrudes
• pokes
• bulges
• juts
• billows
• stands out
• bellies
• overhangs
• sticks out
• projects
• pouts
• beetles
• pouches
• starts
• balloons
• bunches
• bags
• inflates
• pooches
• extends
• distends
• dilates
• stretches
• lengthens
• expands
• domes
• elongates
• mushrooms
• snowballs
• blows up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shrinks
• contracts
• compresses
• condenses
• constricts

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of swells

Noun

Experts have long said Southern California’s sand predominantly migrates south; however, a closer look shows that slow summer swells and other seasonal conditions sometimes push smaller amounts of sediment north. — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

All bus services in the city were canceled, authorities said, while ferry services between New Zealand’s North and South islands were suspended because of strong winds and heavy swells. — Reuters, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026

Coastal areas have also seen dangerous rip currents and elevated surf in recent weeks amid multiple southerly swells, most recently due to Tropical Storm Genevieve. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026

O’Shea said the El Niño pattern, combined with swells, could produce elevated surf throughout the summer. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026

The beach stretches for several kilometers along the Atlantic, picking up consistent swells all year round with a mix of lefts and rights that work for different levels. — Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Genevieve also is generating swells along the southwestern coast of Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula. — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 28 July 2026

The hurricane center said swells generated by Fausto could cause life-threatening surf and rip tides in parts of southern California. — ABC News, 24 July 2026

In Harlem, these new arrivals also encountered swells of Black immigrants from French and British colonial powers, also arriving in search of economic opportunity as well as greater freedom of expression. — Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026

Verb

Consider Mush, Music & Mutts in Shelby, North Carolina’s official (but not only) livermush festival, where for a day each year, the downtown swells to 10,000 people seeking a good time—and a little livermush. — Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026

Bandmates Jakob Nowell and Zane Vandevort, or Zayno, appeared in front of the weather screen to help anchor Kirk Hawkins deliver the latest outlook on Sunday — offering heat advisories as well as updates on California’s surf swells. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026

The National Weather Service has repeatedly warned of dangerous rip currents and elevated surf in recent weeks as multiple southerly swells battered the coastlines of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Rota’s gorgeous score swells sweetly as this affair is sketched, but Mario — older and wiser, to quote the Rodgers and Hammerstein song — has his doubts about a man who seems to him like a cad. — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026

Wood is hygroscopic and swells and shrinks in response to its moisture content. — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026

It was forecast to gradually strengthen and the hurricane center said that ocean swells generated by Fausto were spreading along the Baja California coast and likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip tides. — ABC News, 23 July 2026

Swells generated by Bertha are expected to continue spreading westward along the northern Gulf Coast during the next few days, forecasters said, with these swells likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 22 July 2026

With an American League team that comes to Citizens Bank Park only every other year, that number swells to 50. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 14 July 2026