swell 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of swellnext
1
as in great
of the very best kind what a swell time we had at the country club dance

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

swell

2 of 3

verb

ˈswel How to pronounce swell (audio)
1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number the club membership has really swelled in recent months

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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

swell

3 of 3

noun

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wave
a moving ridge on the surface of water huge swells overwhelmed the tiny craft

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb swell differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of swell are amplify, dilate, distend, expand, and inflate. While all these words mean "to increase in size or volume," swell implies gradual expansion beyond a thing's original or normal limits.

the bureaucracy swelled to unmanageable proportions

In what contexts can amplify take the place of swell?

The synonyms amplify and swell are sometimes interchangeable, but amplify implies the extension or enlargement of something inadequate.

amplify the statement with details

When might dilate be a better fit than swell?

While the synonyms dilate and swell are close in meaning, dilate applies especially to expansion of circumference.

dilated pupils

When could distend be used to replace swell?

The words distend and swell are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distend implies outward extension caused by pressure from within.

a distended abdomen

When would expand be a good substitute for swell?

Although the words expand and swell have much in common, expand may apply regardless of the manner of increase (such as growth, unfolding, addition of parts).

a business that expands every year

When is it sensible to use inflate instead of swell?

While in some cases nearly identical to swell, inflate implies expanding by introduction of air or something insubstantial and suggests a vulnerability to sudden collapse.

an inflated ego

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 swell
Adjective
Why do our ankles swell when they’re sprained or does our skin turn red — or inflamed — when it’s scraped? —Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 4 Mar. 2025 Westerly swell then increasing to 10 to 11 feet with swell periods 17 seconds resulting in breakers up to 19 feet from Saturday morning through Monday evening. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
In the daffodil spears thrusting up through dead leaves, each stalk swells with the pulse of a blossom-to-be. —Rosanna Warren, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025 That number swelled to beyond 175,000 after the war’s onset. —Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
Some of the dialogue meets the same fate, mumbled or whispered into the swell of Jed Kurzel’s evocative soundtrack. —Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2025 As global demand swells— projected to nearly double to $10.6 billion by 2033— nations with sprawling orchards and industrial export capacity are scrambling to scale up. —Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swell
  1. great
  2. happening
  3. increase
  4. expand
  5. protrude
  6. projection
  7. wave
  8. excellent
Adjective
  • However, the Canadians are doing less, which forces the U.S. to take on a greater share of the responsibility.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Development and learning Playing with car seat toys is a great way for babies to learn.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of great
Adjective
  • 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.
    — Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 2 Sep. 2020
  • 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.
    — Craig Hlavaty, Houston Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2018
Definition of happening
Verb
  • The European Union has unveiled an $840 billion plan to increase its defense spending, and the German parliament just passed historic constitutional amendments to take on unprecedented levels of debt to facilitate a massive defense investment.
    — Elizabeth Shackelford, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
  • This initiative is driven by the goal of establishing a closed-loop raw material cycle and acknowledging the increasing significance of recycled materials in future battery production.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of increase
Verb
  • Now that the charter will expand the incoming council to nine members, if the bill is adopted, changing the line would require six council member votes.
    — Luke Parker, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In 2024, the league took concrete steps in that direction, expanding the number of international roster spots from five per team to seven.
    — Asli Pelit, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of expand
Verb
  • With two foot-long horns protruding from either side of their heads, a large hump resting on their shoulders and folds of loose skin drooping from their neck, these aren’t your typical black-and-white milk carton dairy cows.
    — Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2025
  • On the back, the 9a breaks from Pixel tradition, replacing the width-spanning camera bar with a small module protruding from the back.
    — PCMAG, PCMAG, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • Van’s plane is slightly different, with a pop-culture flair, and this time, young Van and old Van watch the movie of her death on a projection screen and ponder what comes next.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Snow White, of course, earned far less than early projections in its opening weekend with a $42.2 million take from 4,200 North American theaters and tumbled 66% in its second frame with a $14.3 million tally.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of projection
Noun
  • Whatever the reasons for a decline in club-going, Fields' TikTok video sparked a wave of nostalgia and longing for a time when nightlife was more affordable and less likely to be recorded.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Apr. 2025
  • When waves wash in, the water flows out through the channels in strong currents that can surprise swimmers and waders and swiftly carry them away from the beach.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of wave
Adjective
  • That is exactly what happened for Olivia Smith’s excellent opener as Marie Hobinger hit a defence-splitting pass in to Canada’s 20-year-old rising star.
    — Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Salah then surged forward towards the edge of the box before playing an excellent pass with the outside of his left boot.
    — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of excellent

Browse Nearby Words

sweet tooth
swell
swelled
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Cite this Entry

“Swell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swell. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

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