shell 1 of 2

noun

ˈshel How to pronounce shell (audio)
Definition of shellnext
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

shell

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to peel
to remove the natural covering of shelling peanuts

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to bomb
to use bombs or artillery against the enemy shelled the city for days without letup

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 shell
Noun
The shell fell near the Palanca-Mayaky-Udobne checkpoint, bounced off the ground and hit a passenger bus parked near the barrier, according to the statement. — Hanna Arhirova, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026 More complex but neutral color-blocking defines the Superstar 2, which starts with a mily white leather base, shell toe and sole unit. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
Russia also shelled the northern Zhytomyr region, starting fires at an industrial facility and a warehouse, Ukraine’s Emergency Service said. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Lebanon's state news agency reported new airstrikes and shelling on their hometown over the weekend. — ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell
  1. sheath
  2. structure
  3. exterior
  4. bark
  5. bomb
  6. casing
  7. framework
  8. surface
Noun
  • Each Axvant hatchet comes with the leather sheath and five replacement fire-starting rods.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2026
  • For birds and turtles, the beak is the mouth itself—the jaw bones, with a keratin sheath over them.
    — Niranjana Rajalakshmi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of sheath
Noun
  • Future uses for the approach include any number of stronger, lighter structures and materials needing protection from vibration and shaking.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
  • One scenario making the rounds has Cheeks potentially overseeing all of the vast TV holdings of the combined company, but so far, there’s no firm confirmation and a final structure isn’t expected to be announced until next week.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of structure
Noun
  • Eventually, the interior fell largely vacant and the exterior acquired a second skin of billboards, effectively converting it into a scaffolding for ads.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Mish bagel is both dense and chewy, with a crisp exterior and a soft center.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of exterior
Verb
  • Rubber-bullet shooters and a barking K-9 unit trailed behind.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The golden doodles would always bark when someone approached the house, said Ashley’s father, Todd Smith.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of bark
Verb
  • But few could have anticipated just how badly the film would bomb.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The Associated Press LONDON -- Two Iranian men conducted surveillance of a Manchester synagogue that was the site of a deadly attack a year ago as part of a plot to bomb it this year, a prosecutor said Saturday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of bomb
Noun
  • Detectives found a 9 mm shell casing at the scene, records show.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators recovered 114 spent shell casings along the K Street Mall after the shooting, according to court records, evidence of the sheer volume of gunfire unleashed within seconds.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of casing
Noun
  • Clayton also noted in the interview the task force would discuss potential legislative options that could be part of an AI framework moving forward.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Earlier this year, the EU softened its corporate sustainability disclosure rules and adjusted its carbon pricing framework.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of framework
Noun
  • Many people are familiar with the El Niño phenomenon of warming surface temperatures across the Pacific Ocean.
    — Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 2 Oct. 2026
  • According to the civil action, E’Mari disappeared below the water surface within a crowd and drowned in shallow water.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of surface

Phrases Containing shell

Browse Nearby Words

shekels
shell
shellac
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on shell

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shell

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All