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
Cale Ahearn, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2025
With shells exploding across Khartoum, the capital, Ahmed and fellow students first mobilized to evacuate their university.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025
Time Photo Department, TIME, 30 Dec. 2024
The shrimp should be shelled, deveined and preferably have the tails on.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shell 
Noun
Authorities recovered a gun, a magazine containing 40 caliber rounds, a bucket of 40 caliber ammunition, and two 40 caliber shell casings.
—Cale Ahearn, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2025
With shells exploding across Khartoum, the capital, Ahmed and fellow students first mobilized to evacuate their university.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
The result shows a burning fire to the right and the trails of light from shelling directed at southern Lebanon.
—Time Photo Department, TIME, 30 Dec. 2024
The shrimp should be shelled, deveined and preferably have the tails on.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell
Noun
-
Police found a Ka-Bar knife sheath under Mogen's body that prosecutors say contained Kohberger's DNA.—
Stepheny Price,
Fox News,
23 Jan. 2025
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Investigators found the leather sheath for a combat-style knife on the bed of one of the victims, next to her body, according to police.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The two largest blazes, the Palisades and Eaton fires, killed 29 people, torched more than 40,000 acres and destroyed more than 16,000 structures.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA TODAY,
29 Jan. 2025
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Meryl Streep was one of a handful of area residents whose experiences with the fires — which have claimed 29 lives and destroyed more than 15,000 structures — were told in the New York story.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The seven-time Super Bowl champion has previously shared several photos of the modern, waterfront mansion on Instagram, including of the glass exterior of the house, the pool, its views of the ocean and its living room and kitchen.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
31 Jan. 2025
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The material will be analyzed inside the station to see whether microorganisms exist on the exterior of the orbital complex.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The easy-to-apply wallpaper is safe to use, nice quality, and doesn’t peel or tear when applying, per reviewers.—
Kelsey Fredricks,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Jan. 2025
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For many of us stateside Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a moment to breathe and at times peel back a layer and rest.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The destruction in parts of Altadena, a few miles to the west of Sierra Madre, and Pacific Palisades, which had burned in a separate fire on the other side of Los Angeles, made these areas appear bombed out.—
M. R. O’Connor,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
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While The Crow bombed after a heartwarming buildup, opening at $4.6 million against a budget of at least $50 million, LaBeouf has appeared in Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis and shot a film with David Mamet, signaling a post–Me Too comeback.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Officers who responded to the scene did not find any shell casings.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
21 Jan. 2025
-
The bullet casings used as evidence in the case were provided to police by Ephron.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Then Trump established a framework for his administration.—
Matthew Continetti,
National Review,
25 Jan. 2025
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This language provides a sufficient framework for protecting the interests in this case.—
Liz Tracey,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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His most recent series—and his most complex yet to produce—nods to stained glass, inserting melted pieces into bronze or aluminum frameworks to create surfaces, mirrors, and more.—
Hannah Martin,
Architectural Digest,
22 Jan. 2025
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Niacinamide serum to control oil production and reduce pores and redness Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to help exfoliate the surface layer of dry skin Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) to treat oily and acne-prone skin and penetrate deeper into pores.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near shell
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
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