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

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 footage shows the rookie lifeguard, just 16 years old, holding onto a limp child as massive swells repeatedly pound the duo. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 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

The beach hazard statements have been in effect mainly due to the strong southerly swells brought by storms that have been ongoing in the south Pacific, sending waves of energy that slam into the West Coast. — CBS News, 12 July 2026

Options for activities include paddleboarding and chasing Arctic swells in the fjords, sailing through sea cliffs and the uninhabited Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, and spotting whales, seals, Arctic foxes, and more wildlife. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 June 2026

Verb

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

Conditions will deteriorate further by midweek as northwest swells increase, the Weather Service said. — Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 13 July 2026

Coastal flooding also will remain a threat through the early part of the week, as king tides continue to pound the Bay Area coast, and the Pacific Ocean swells stay high because of storm activity in the Southern Hemisphere. — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 13 July 2026

South of Florence, on Tuscany’s Monte Argentario peninsula, Porto Ercole exudes the same timeless glamour as the Amalfi Coast but on a much smaller scale—and sans swells of cruise ship crowds. — Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2026

The more the value of TV deals swells, Master said, the more money leagues leave on the table by not expanding. — Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026

In the end-credits sequence when Powell’s name appears, the music swells and intensifies, as if someone in the theater cranked the sound up to its maximum level just for him. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 7 July 2026