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
Lisa Jhung, Outside, 11 Feb. 2026
The core is surrounded by an outer shell that includes a network of electrical wires.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Kiah Collier, Austin American Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
Israeli tank shelling on Thursday killed four Palestinians east of Gaza City, according to Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of the Shifa Hospital, where the bodies were taken.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shell
Noun
The shell adds additional wind and wet protection with minimal weight.
—Lisa Jhung, Outside, 11 Feb. 2026
The core is surrounded by an outer shell that includes a network of electrical wires.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
Investigators quickly identified Armstrong, then 35, as a suspect after surveillance footage showed her vehicle near the scene shortly before the shooting and forensic evidence tied a gun registered to her to shell casings at the scene.
—Kiah Collier, Austin American Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
Israeli tank shelling on Thursday killed four Palestinians east of Gaza City, according to Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of the Shifa Hospital, where the bodies were taken.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell
Noun
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Metallic heels were also on order for another of her husband's premieres — plus a textured sheath and her trademark glossy waves.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
4 Feb. 2026
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The sleeveless sheath featured a deep V-neckline and strong, slightly extended shoulders, with sequins running in dense rows throughout.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
On May 17, a bomb rocked Palm Springs, California – shaking structures for several blocks, shattering glass and leveling one innocuous-looking building.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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The program’s structure has enabled some companies to quickly capture a large portion of funding, over 1,000 vouchers in some cases, without having the inventory or production capacity to deliver those vehicles in a timely fashion.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Xenon gloves from Rab are remarkably lightweight, warm, and breathable thanks to its featherweight but durable Pertex exterior and just right amount of premium Primaloft Gold insulation inside.—
Joe Jackson,
Outside,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The exteriors may be similar, but the interiors couldn’t be more different.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Iran has been refusing requests by the agency to inspect the sites bombed in the June war.—
Farnoush Amiri,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Such joint ventures could allow Ukraine to produce more of its weapons elsewhere in Europe, ensuring stability of supply if factories inside Ukraine get bombed.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Mobile Crime Unit responded to process the scene and found multiple shell casings.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Forty-two shell casings were recovered by police inside and outside the lounge.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Senate should advance ethical AI frameworks, protect privacy, establish clear accountability, invest in workforce retraining programs, and ensure innovation benefits all sectors without undermining safety or civil liberties.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
China is actively building a regulatory framework for the low-altitude economy.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Too much architecture — too many foyers, signs, cafés, screens, glossy surfaces, bright colors, and walls — could ruin the raw, funky feel of the place.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
10 Feb. 2026
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This is ideal for decades of sliding across the ice, because bigger mineral grains are more likely to get plucked out by the ice, leaving holes in the surface that could cause unpredictable behavior.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Not only is the white barked tree beautiful, but the sound of the wind rushing through the leaves embodies peace.—
Becky Bartkowski,
AZCentral.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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Punches were thrown from both teams after the goal, and the coaches from both benches barked at each other.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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