1
as in great
of the very best kind
what a swell time we had at the country club dance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in happening
being in the latest or current fashion
in its heyday as a summer resort, the town was known for its swanky hotels and swell restaurants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the club membership has really swelled in recent months
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to expand
to make greater in size, amount, or number
more layoffs will swell the ranks of the unemployed to unprecedented levels
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3
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
at that point the Congo River swells and forms Malebo Pool
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in projection
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of swell
Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
The swell two days before Christmas that gave Santa Cruz surfer Alo Slebir the ride of his life on a towering wave at Mavericks off the coast of Half Moon Bay was officially the biggest wave ridden over the most recent season of surfing, the sport’s authorities announced late Saturday.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2025
Carmen Reinicke, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026
Too much moisture can lead to problems with mold, swelling wood, dust mites, and bacteria.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2026
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Oceans are much more vast, so vessels are much more likely to be dealing with swells — which are older, leftover waves coming from distant storms, Lenters said.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swell
Adjective
Cowboys pass at will on Panthers’ defense While the Carolina defense continued to do a swell job against the run for a second consecutive weekend, the coverage unit left a lot to be desired against Prescott and the Cowboys’ aerial attack.
—Verb
Those gains quickly faded, however, as investors focused on rising capital expenditures, questions around the structure of some cloud deals and a swelling debt load linked to data-center expansion.
—Noun
There is a moderate chance for Coastal Flood Advisories and/or High Surf Advisories to be issued for this weekend as another storm system may generate strong winds accompanied by a larger swell.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for swell
Adjective
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The country's greatest resource is not oil beneath the ground, but people--inside and outside the country--who still care deeply about its future.—
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Newsom is certainly right that California is a great state and an economic engine unmatched by other states.—
Adjective
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While the overarching trend for fall is still lowest maintenance possible, there's a bit more happening than your typical sunny blondes and balayage brunettes.—
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What was once a sleepy college town next to a railroad stop is now one of the most happening cities in the state of Texas.—
Verb
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The committee approved Lucas’s amendment and approved the recommendation to increase funding for the temporary jail.—
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Iwobi’s movement drags Ladislav Krejci wider, increasing the space between the lines and creating a clear passing angle for Calvin Bassey.—
Verb
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Flywing also plans to expand the competitive side of the platform.—
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Neutrality allowed the nation to build strength, expand westward, and avoid the ideological contagions sweeping the continent.—
Verb
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Route 66 Road Relics With its popping turquoise facade and junk cars protruding from the walls, Route 66 Road Relics is hard to miss.—
-
Avoid areas of ice with protruding debris like logs or brush.—
Noun
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We’re trapped by recent history — the prior year’s numbers for healthy players are the top factor in every projection.—
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Current pricing projections place the vehicle under $30,000.—
Noun
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According to court documents, the fraudulent activity occurred in two waves.—
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Her death, captured on camera by multiple bystanders, has captured nationwide attention and sparked a wave of protests.—
Adjective
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But the Red Sox destroyed and ended their relationship with their only true power hitter and proven winner for a player who, though an undeniably excellent addition, was here for 117 total games.—
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Transition metal fluorides are widely regarded as promising cathode materials because of their high theoretical voltages and excellent thermal stability.—
Cite this Entry
“Swell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swell. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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