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
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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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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
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Recent Examples of swell
Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
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.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
As acne develops through inflammation, the practice of acupressure is used to reduce swelling and encourage blood circulation.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 May 2026
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 19 May 2026
Jan Jansen, captured on the swells of the Atlantic by Muslim pirates, left behind a wife and four daughters in his native Haarlem.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for swell
Adjective
And then there’s Lousy Louie, a basically swell kid, trying to stick to the straight and narrow during his first year of parole.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
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.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
Once the cuticle lifts, moisture from the air can enter the hair shaft, causing strands to swell and look puffy or unruly.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
As acne develops through inflammation, the practice of acupressure is used to reduce swelling and encourage blood circulation.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 29 May 2026
Noun
The clubs that came to compete this year were met with plenty of swell and sunshine throughout the event.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 19 May 2026
Jan Jansen, captured on the swells of the Atlantic by Muslim pirates, left behind a wife and four daughters in his native Haarlem.
—Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for swell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swell
Adjective
-
Monroe’s image-making Monroe always had greater agency over her still images than her moving images, which were largely determined by the film studios and directors.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
In performance and direction, and in the small ways in which Caswell and Wills have plotted out this isolated love story, there’s a level of great richness and detail.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The ship is thoughtfully designed to allow for ample space so guests do not feel overcrowded, even in the most happening spots.—
Susan Barnes,
Southern Living,
10 Dec. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Becerra’s support increased by 9 percentage points in a little more than two weeks when compared with the May 9-10 Emerson results.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
But even on a per-square-foot basis, the price has increased 33%.—
Allison Schrager,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The deal with Curry, who is a household name in China, is expected to further boost Li-Ning’s popularity in the country and help expand the brand’s market share in the US.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
By greatly expanding the dimensions of his images, with their muted palettes, tight cropping, found symmetries, and laconic wit, had the maestro of the photographic epigram betrayed his subtractive aesthetic?—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Once again, the rest of the silhouette is printed in black, as the brand marks are either inset or protruding from the pattern.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
22 May 2026
-
The hilt of a sword protruded from his back, snug beside a pack as tight as an angry fist.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
While initial projections saw the Lucasfilm western grossing $40 million by Sunday, that number now looks closer to $25 million, according to rival estimates.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
30 May 2026
-
Maxwell Bowman’s projection and video design are sharply on point, with clean and clear swipes and transitions that are the lifeblood of any live production.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Playa Vik sits directly on Playa Mansa, on downtown José Ignacio’s western edge, facing calm waters and long, romantic stretches of sand where you’re bound to see more birds, more waves than people.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The voice was faint and rasping, like the sound of pebbles raked by a wave.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Seb Stafford-Bloor’s excellent Transfer Tiers series is moving on to central defenders today.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
The right-shot defenseman has had an excellent tournament for Finland, who advanced to the semifinals with a win over Czechia.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swell. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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