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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Chandler Rome, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Last year, the conglomerate’s perfumes and cosmetics division saw organic sales swell to 8.42 billion euros.
—James Manso, WWD, 11 Mar. 2025
Greg Iacurci,lorie Konish, CNBC, 6 June 2025
An outbreak of the disease was swelling in Gaines County, a rural community with one of the lowest childhood vaccination rates in the country.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 4 June 2025
The Conversation, 14 May 2025
There were no other visitors, but up in the gallery, someone was belting out a hymn on the blue and gold organ, charging the space with a swell of emotion.
—Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for swell
Adjective
Espada has witnessed all but one year of the Houston Astros’ golden era, watching expectations swell to almost unattainable levels.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
Last year, the conglomerate’s perfumes and cosmetics division saw organic sales swell to 8.42 billion euros.
—James Manso, WWD, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
The ranks of the uninsured would swell as a result of policies that would add barriers to access, raise insurance costs and deny benefits outright for some people, such as certain legal immigrants.
—Greg Iacurci,lorie Konish, CNBC, 6 June 2025
An outbreak of the disease was swelling in Gaines County, a rural community with one of the lowest childhood vaccination rates in the country.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 4 June 2025
Noun
The helmsman, feeling swells beneath the vessel, gleans the proper heading, even in the dark.
—The Conversation, 14 May 2025
There were no other visitors, but up in the gallery, someone was belting out a hymn on the blue and gold organ, charging the space with a swell of emotion.
—Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for swell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swell
Adjective
-
No putt was more important than his 20-foot par putt up the ridge on No. 9 to finish off a great round the right way.—
Doug Ferguson,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
-
Beckham, 50, is widely celebrated as one of the greatest players of his generation.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
13 June 2025
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
Verb
-
Ratcliffe has since increased his stake to nearly 30 per cent after spending a further $300m on new shares.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
-
The increasing supply of NPs and PAs could offset this primary care shortfall if their capabilities were fully utilized.—
Web Golinkin,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Verb
-
Most significantly, 62% say their responsibilities have expanded significantly beyond their core reporting roles, with 37% reporting layoffs or buyouts at their organizations in the past year.—
Lilian Raji,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
Hackers over the years have expanded their target list to include cities and municipalities, hospitals, hotels and casinos, as reported by CBS News' 60 Minutes.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
The animals have small eyes that slightly protrude from their heads, which are smooth and flat, according to the study.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2025
-
Books fly off the shelves, a protruding nail vanishes and then reappears, a Ouija board spells an incomplete message, and there’s definitely something on the third floor.—
Gabino Iglesias,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
One-time items, say a litigation settlement, potentially mess with an analyst’s projection of continuing performance.—
Shivaram Rajgopal,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
-
The exhibit animates the workings of the machine through projection mapping on the surface, allowing viewers to learn about its role in the mechanical revolution of agriculture, the release said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
Conquering the Pacer comeback wave feels like the final breakthrough.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
-
The next big wave of digital transformation is being driven by agentic AI.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
And excellent retail in turn should entice people to choose one store over another and visit often.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
17 June 2025
-
But that year does look a little anomalous on his career ledger, with more of an 80-point baseline (which, of course, is still excellent).—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swell. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
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