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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of shell
John Burek, PCMAG, 14 Jan. 2025
By 6:30 that morning, nothing remained save the shell of a house that was once owned by Mayer Singerman, a former village mayor and later where mother-in-law, Mignon, and husband, Tom McDade, spent their last days.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
Juliann Ventura, The Hill, 29 Nov. 2024
To reduce time exposed, the driver accelerated to speeds approaching 80 miles an hour, weaving past potholes and shell craters on the route.
—C.j. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shell 
Noun
So, Butter Caramel has a vibrant yellow shell and a deep beige interior, while Mint Strawberry looks like a cool blue on the casing and a muted light pink inside.
—John Burek, PCMAG, 14 Jan. 2025
By 6:30 that morning, nothing remained save the shell of a house that was once owned by Mayer Singerman, a former village mayor and later where mother-in-law, Mignon, and husband, Tom McDade, spent their last days.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
The day before, at least 15 people, including women and children, were killed and three dozen more were injured following airstrikes and shelling in areas of Aleppo and Idlib that are rebel-held, according to a volunteer rescue group, CNN reported.
—Juliann Ventura, The Hill, 29 Nov. 2024
To reduce time exposed, the driver accelerated to speeds approaching 80 miles an hour, weaving past potholes and shell craters on the route.
—C.j. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shell
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shell
Noun
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Investigators found a tan leather knife sheath on Mogen's bed.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
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Erivo wore a sheath silhouette backless halter gown with a deep v-neckline accentuated by the gown's bright white lapels.Charna Flam, People.com, 4 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Interestingly enough, the model is less focused on predicting specific protein structures, like Deepmind’s AlphaFold, but rather on predicting how those proteins will interact with others.Alex Knapp, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
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The bizarre, six-sided structure on the round planet's north pole caused quite the stir, because straight lines and polygons are not so common in nature.Ailsa Harvey, Space.com, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Keeping it uncovered helps achieve a nice exterior.Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2025
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The grand tourer had a lot to live up to but had little trouble doing so thanks to its sleek exterior and potent Colombo V-12.Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Throughout the interior of the villa, guests can expect minimalist design with thoughtful historic touches — keep your eyes peeled for original details like wood floors, exposed beams, and doors.Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2025
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The report also called for repairs of peeling and cracking floor surface coating, which prevents them from being cleaned properly.Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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After last year’s host, Jo Koy, memorably bombed, the emcee this year, Nikki Glaser, could hardly do worse.Stephanie Goodman, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
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Which helps to explain why so many popular stand-ups have blown their hosting stints; Jo Koy memorably bombed on the Globes stage last year with a misogynistic Barbie riff.Judy Berman, TIME, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Twenty-eight shell casings were found in and around the car after the shooting, according to court documents.Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 11 Jan. 2025
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Over the centuries, the decomposing bodies left cavities inside the hardened mineral casings.Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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If your business operates in industries that have strict data rules and regulations, such as finance and healthcare, SASE can work within a zero-trust framework, which assumes that no user or device should be trusted by default.Maxwell Alles, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
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Under the framework, 18 U.S. allies will have no new restrictions, but for most other countries, the U.S. will require authorization for exports, reexports, and transfers of advanced computing chips.Chad de Guzman, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Slap Shot by Savannah Rose Upon spotting an unknown newcomer in its habitat, a North American beaver will lift its tail and bring it cracking down onto the surface of a pond, emitting a dull slapping noise that warns its family of the possible danger nearby.Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
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But beyond the surface of family photos on Instagram and viral TikTok dances was a hidden reality shared by many Black men; the feeling of immense pressure to suppress pain and avoid being perceived as a burden.Essence, Essence, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near shell
Cite this Entry
“Shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shell. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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