whelks

noun

plural of whelk
as in blisters
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin unsightly whelks covered the beggar's face

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of whelks Search for shells at the shoreline, and you'll be surprised by the amount of perfectly intact, yet tiny whelks, cockles, and olive shells. — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 20 June 2026 Smaller critters — hermit crabs, lightning whelks and snails — skittered along the seafloor. — Max Chesnes, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026 And for those looking to collect shells, this is the place for rare angel wings, whelks, and sand dollars. — Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whelks
  1. pustules
  2. pimples
  3. boils
Noun
  • In animals, the bacterium causes pustules and lesions, predominantly in cattle, sheep, and horses.
    — Helen Branswell, STAT, 11 May 2026
  • In fact, one of the most common triggers of rosacea, which is characterized by flushing, swelling, spider veins, papules, and pustules, is exposure to sunlight.
    — Sherri Gordon, Health, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of pustules
Noun
  • In addition to being predominantly white, shoes with pimples around the outside of the toes are not permitted.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • Thabi Hlela of African Alabaster Botanical Skincare uses marula and shea butter in formulations that have cleared pimples and reversed early aging signs in customers who had tried pharmaceutical alternatives.
    — Lisa Curtis, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Definition of pimples
Noun
  • Capt Hirams Resort is now a hot spot for multiple events, such as live music, crab boils, shows, game nights, mystery nights, fishing tournaments and conferences about real treasure hunts off the nearby shores.
    — USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • Watch for the popper to disappear like a bobber or keep an eye out for subtle boils around the lure.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 23 July 2026
Definition of boils

Browse Nearby Words

whelk
whelks
whelm
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whelks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelks. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on whelks

Nglish: Translation of whelks for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

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

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All