1
as in sheaths
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it eating oysters straight out of their shells
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in structures
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 exteriors
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
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 shells
Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026 The shells hold onto the cream sauce and cheese, so every bite has a little bit of everything in it. —Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026 Wally spits sunflower seed shells onto the brown sand. —Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026 The materials have cooling properties like moisture-wicking bamboo viscose outer shells. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 14 Apr. 2026 The team modeled outer shells after a taxidermist’s form, built at a plastics lab in Riverton. —Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026 In keeping with its no-plastic stance, Indilisi uses carved coconut shells or corozo for fastenings. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026 This includes shrimp shells, crab shells, eggshells, chicken bones, and fish spines. —Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 12 Apr. 2026 Stantis’ drawing shows Jesus hanging on a cross with oversized bombs and mortar shells flying helter-skelter in the air. —Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Noun
Using methods including high-resolution 3D scanning, researchers found that many of the 92 fragments bear cut marks on their inner surfaces, indicating that the turtles were carefully butchered by Neanderthals — with limbs detached, internal organs removed and shells thoroughly cleaned. —Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026 The shells hold onto the cream sauce and cheese, so every bite has a little bit of everything in it. —Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026 Wally spits sunflower seed shells onto the brown sand. —Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026 The materials have cooling properties like moisture-wicking bamboo viscose outer shells. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 14 Apr. 2026 The team modeled outer shells after a taxidermist’s form, built at a plastics lab in Riverton. —Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026 In keeping with its no-plastic stance, Indilisi uses carved coconut shells or corozo for fastenings. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026 This includes shrimp shells, crab shells, eggshells, chicken bones, and fish spines. —Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 12 Apr. 2026 Stantis’ drawing shows Jesus hanging on a cross with oversized bombs and mortar shells flying helter-skelter in the air. —Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
During the drive, a tank shells the car, killing most of the occupants. —E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shells
Noun
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Opt for bigger hanging bulbs, discrete flickers, or even hanging sheaths.— Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2026
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The payload was designed to test a hypersonic navigation system capable of accurately identifying spacecraft position, even when communications are blocked by intense plasma sheaths during hypersonic flight.— Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Much of the wooden buildings were destroyed by fire in 1923, later replaced with brick structures.— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Apr. 2026
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Some structures on the grounds are 200 years old, salvaged from the hog farm that was on the property 40-plus years ago.— Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The cabin-style rooms in the Sycamore House, with board-and-batten exteriors and interiors, are unexpectedly dark and moody.— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
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Loss of valuables in the ruins The exteriors of some buildings remained blackened from the flames.— Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Along with sporting beautiful blooms, it’s also named for its interesting bark, which peels back in winter.— Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 18 Apr. 2026
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Vought Rising — but Jensen Ackles can't leave the set until someone peels him out of his costume.— Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The United States bombs Iran's nuclear facilities days later.— Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
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Page Six gets a Hollywood edition Papps declined last week to reveal what stories his reporters were chasing and what bombs the political columnists will throw in its first editions.— Christopher Weber, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In a search of the vehicle, investigators found shell casings matching those found at the scene and blood in the car’s backseat, according to the probable cause statement.— Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
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Officers found 15 spent shell casings in the area.— Updated April 20, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Most current educational models were built on frameworks from the 1920s, optimized for uniformity and rote instruction, not for the range of students in classrooms today.— Sherri Helvie, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
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Covalent organic frameworks have been explored as potential electrolyte materials because of their porous and stable structures.— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Employees reportedly washed dishes, equipment and other food contact surfaces without using any sanitizer.— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2026
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Unlike trees or grass, these surfaces trap solar radiation and release it slowly, turning neighborhoods into long-lasting heat batteries.— Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shells.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/shells. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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