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
Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 25 July 2025
In the second photo, the animals are freed of their restraints — one of the pets is crawling about the bin while the other stays in its shell.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 24 July 2025
Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
The game in New Jersey was perhaps the team’s worst of the season; they got shelled 5-0, managed only 12 shots and took a pair of too-many-men penalties.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shell
Noun
Made from rugged canvas, the shell will last a lifetime.
—Christopher Murray
May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 25 July 2025
In the second photo, the animals are freed of their restraints — one of the pets is crawling about the bin while the other stays in its shell.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 24 July 2025
Verb
Russia also shelled residential neighborhoods and critical infrastructure across Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, killing four civilians and wounding at least 11 others, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the regional military administration.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
The game in New Jersey was perhaps the team’s worst of the season; they got shelled 5-0, managed only 12 shots and took a pair of too-many-men penalties.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell
Noun
-
Per the affidavit, DNA was found on a knife sheath located at the scene of the crime.—
Time,
Time,
23 July 2025
-
Each of them suffered multiple stab wounds from a large knife, believed to be the Ka-Bar that came from a leather sheath found next to Mogen's body.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
The structure is built up to 33 stories, and the project, which is ahead of schedule, will reach a key milestone of 50% completion by the end of July.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
29 July 2025
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Now, a glass curtain wall and some metal panels line the structure's edge.—
Sydney Franklin,
The Enquirer,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
Don't be fooled by the building's nondescript exterior—the tiny displays of classic photos and stories inside, combined with the affordable €5 ticket for retrospectives and programs with filmmaker participation, won me over immediately.—
Emily Manthei,
Travel + Leisure,
19 July 2025
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The facade is made of raw concrete plaster that was intentionally left to weather over time, resulting in a rough, unrefined exterior that is contrasted by mahogany doors, oak paneling, and large glass windows.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
The second looks to obtain cobalt-rich crusts that have accumulated over millions of years on the tops of seamounts between depths of approximately 3,000 and 8,000 feet, by peeling these crusts off from the bedrock.—
Amber X. Chen,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 July 2025
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In a large bowl, add lemon juice and a couple of peeled and pitted ripe avocados, cut into ½-inch cubes.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 July 2025
Verb
-
Trump’s decision to bomb Iran, after all, happened without forewarning for his allies.—
Garret Martin,
The Conversation,
15 July 2025
-
Initially considered a frontrunner in the competition, both as a fierce competitor and a shady schemer, the Texas titan returned for the semifinals last week as a shell of her former self, bombing Snatch Game and having to lip sync for her life.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Officials said deputies found multiple shell casings at the scene and later learned that four other gunshot victims checked into area hospitals.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
20 July 2025
-
Investigators found multiple shell casings at the apartment complex and a .45 caliber gun in the wrecked car.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
To encourage an open AI ecosystem, the White House recommends improving the financial market for compute in a framework that could look similar to spot and forward prices for commodities.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
25 July 2025
-
They can be dropped into any campaign, though there are frameworks available in the book for those groups that want to stitch these stories together.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
What looked, on the surface, like a tremendous win for women and fair wages was just the latest reminder that more than 60 years after the Equal Pay Act became law, women are still forced to fight for the baseline.—
Randi Braun,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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On its surface, the Connecticut River can be deceptive.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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