1
as in sheath
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it
eating oysters straight out of their shells
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in structure
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form
workers at the shipyard have thus far erected the shell of the ship
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in exterior
an outer part or layer
the shell of the building is all glass, making it conspicuous on a street with mostly limestone facades
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shell
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Start with oysters on the half shell, served with a pickled red onion mignonette.
—Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025
Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2025
Russia denies this, accusing Ukraine of shelling the facility.
—Hanna Arhirova, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shell
Noun
The robot was like a shell around us, so we were really protected.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Start with oysters on the half shell, served with a pickled red onion mignonette.
—Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
Raw shelled eggs were stored above lemons inside a walk-in refrigerator.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2025
Russia denies this, accusing Ukraine of shelling the facility.
—Hanna Arhirova, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell
Noun
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In this case, investigators found a single source of male DNA on the button snap of a leather knife sheath left at the crime scene, according to a probable cause affidavit.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
1 May 2025
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Paleontologists unearthed the fossil in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, and the find is unique because the sheath of one of the digits is intact.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The petunias are tested and evaluated for qualities such as uniform structure, color quality and intensity, shape, flowering window and speed, and much more.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 May 2025
-
Fitted blazers, specifically, offer the perfect amount of structure to offset these skintight bottoms.—
Kelsey Stiegman,
Glamour,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Photo: Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust/Getty Images The exterior was inspired by Shingle-style homes, which were popular among wealthy East Coast families.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
8 May 2025
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The exterior is made with mesh to enhance airflow, and the shirt has elastane to stretch and move with you.—
Nicol Natale,
People.com,
8 May 2025
Verb
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Recent federal proposals aim to peel back the curtain, mandating clearer disclosure of fees, rebates and spread pricing.—
Yasser Almuaala,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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Carefully peel the round from the tortilla press, place on the comal and cook on one side for 1 minute.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This feud would come to an end on an episode of Monday Night Raw in August 2023 when Owens power bombed Ezekiel onto the ring apron, causing him to be stretchered backstage.—
Jeremy Hanna,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
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On April 2, Israel bombed several Syrian military sites, including the Tiyas air base, known as T4, to prevent Ankara from establishing air defenses there.—
David Makovsky,
Foreign Affairs,
6 May 2025
Noun
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Officers reported recovering 36 shell casings from the backyard.—
Gael Langdon,
Arkansas Online,
28 Apr. 2025
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Investigators found several bullet casings from both .40 caliber and 9mm handguns in the field, according to their report.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Change can no longer be systematically managed through static frameworks or legacy leadership models.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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Advertisement Advertisement As the head of a legal organization that advocates for immigrants, I’m cursed with a front-row view of the framework that threatens to erode our democracy.—
Kica Matos,
Time,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Then, almost all at once, the insects burrow upward and break through the surface of the soil, often making their presence known by erupting in loud and at times constant choruses.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2025
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The full story begins 70 to 60 million years ago, when a slab of rock sliding into Earth’s mantle melted, creating a plume that reached the surface some 30 million years later.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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