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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of swells
Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Jan. 2026
Farther north in the Bay Area, a powerful combination of abnormally high king tides, large swells caused by a storm hanging out in the eastern Pacific, and rainfall across the region has led to coastal flooding.
—Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
Depending on the season, visitors and locals come for sunbathing, swimming, and surfing, the latter especially popular in winter thanks to cold-weather swells at the permanent surf spot near Lincoln Boulevard.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Jan. 2026
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
It has been correlated with swells of human progress and flourishing, science and technology, medicine and political freedom.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
In Seal Beach, workers built up a large sand berm, but the ocean water still made its way up to a beach boardwalk, another trouble area that can experience flooding during big swells and high tides.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
Grace Bay consistently ranks among the world’s most beautiful beaches, partly because a barrier reef a mile offshore keeps the waters calm and free of swells.
—Vanita Salisbury, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025
The weather service issued a warning for a hazardous beaches and said waves were expected to reach average swells of 15 feet through Saturday.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 7 Jan. 2026
There's a sort of a natural world religiousness or spirituality or philosophy that swells around a lot of things and different characters.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 6 Jan. 2026
The city swells with visitors during these spectacularly sunny, warm months, so expect bigger crowds and higher prices.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 2 Jan. 2026
When the body recognizes a viral intruder, lymphatic tissue in the back of the nose and throat swells and becomes inflamed, causing pain, the experts said.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025
Choppy lake waves versus smooth ocean swells In the Great Lakes, waves are created by wind from storms nearby.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 29 Dec. 2025
In extreme cases – when the brain swells and lungs fill with fluid – severe altitude sickness can be fatal.
—Cecilia Vega, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
Without any historical detail to orient these voices, their singing possesses a kind of beauty that swells into terror, like the vaguely unsettling feeling of setting foot in a cathedral.
—Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 21 Dec. 2025
For me, the feeling of nailing a big, screen-clearing combo while the music swells to a crescendo is well worth the grind.
—PC Magazine, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
Even as the contestants arrive to begin the season, an important rowing portion of today's marooning challenge remains up in the air due to tumultuous swells.
—Verb
While the number of retirees swells, the pool of workers funding the social safety net — and caring for the aging population — is narrowing.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for swells
Noun
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The Department of Finance, which calculates its projections differently, is expected to estimate a smaller deficit than the LAO.—
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Current pricing projections place the vehicle under $30,000.—
Noun
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It's been three days since an ICE agent shot and killed Good, sparking waves of protests.—
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According to court documents, the fraudulent activity occurred in two waves.—
Verb
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But there are several notable categories where the quality increases with cost, and one of those is noise-canceling headphones.—
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Pushing frozen branches upright quickly increases the chances of breakage.—
Verb
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This foldable tote bag packs flat, expands instantly, and can carry souvenirs, beach gear, or laundry.—
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That's how the music conveys that, expands it.—
Verb
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Baleen is a specialized type of bone that protrudes from the jaws like teeth and is used to filter small critters from the ocean water to feed.—
Noun
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Air bubbles, cracks and bulges in a tire's sidewall could all warrant a tire change.—
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Originally designed for line-of-battle engagements, Fusō underwent major refits in the 1930s, gaining improved armor, torpedo bulges, and a speed of roughly 24 knots.—
Verb
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When wet clothes are placed near exterior walls—which are much colder than interior walls in the winter—moisture rises to the cold surface, creating the perfect conditions for trapping moisture and causing mold growth.—
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During this season, sap rises to the top of the tree.—
Verb
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The Honda accelerates, colliding with two parked vehicles and a light post.—
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The nation’s siloed and shrinking media environment accelerates this trend.—
Cite this Entry
“Swells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swells. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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