as in lump
a small rounded mass of swollen tissue
the swelling at the site of the insect bite was not too concerning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in surging
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in increasing
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the club membership has really swelled in recent months
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accelerating
to make greater in size, amount, or number
more layoffs will swell the ranks of the unemployed to unprecedented levels
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in protruding
to extend outward beyond a usual point
at that point the Congo River swells and forms Malebo Pool
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of swelling
Hannah Coates, Vogue, 7 Jan. 2025
There were no broken bones, either, so aside from a few scratch marks and swelling of his upper lip, Self survived the incident without stitches.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Jan. 2025
While many salivary duct stones can pass without treatment, symptoms of swelling and painful eating persist until the stone is removed.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 27 Dec. 2024
This swelling and irritation can be caused by a number of things, but viruses and bacteria are the most common.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for swelling 
Noun
One of the common culprits behind puffiness (as distinct from facial swelling, which can be indicative of more serious issues), is dehydration or water retention, which explains why an evening of alcohol can impact how your face looks the next morning.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 7 Jan. 2025
There were no broken bones, either, so aside from a few scratch marks and swelling of his upper lip, Self survived the incident without stitches.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Jan. 2025
While many salivary duct stones can pass without treatment, symptoms of swelling and painful eating persist until the stone is removed.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 27 Dec. 2024
This swelling and irritation can be caused by a number of things, but viruses and bacteria are the most common.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for swelling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swelling
Noun
-
Just in time for Christmas, certain members of Congress are hard at work in their policy shops, fashioning a massive lump of cybersecurity coal with which to gift American users of electronic devices.—
David Williams,
National Review,
26 Dec. 2024
-
Ten years ago, the European Space Agency’s Rosetta probe pulled up alongside a dusty, icy lump the size of a mountain.—
Elise Cutts,
WIRED,
22 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
An increasing number of large and mid-size firms are reporting on their sustainability initiatives.—
Aliza Knox,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
-
As president, Biden helped the country past the COVID pandemic, increasing the availability of testing and vaccines.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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That means that any sudden car movements – stopping, accelerating, or turning – could cause the tires to skid on top of the snow.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA TODAY,
8 Jan. 2025
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Cavity prevention isn’t just about sugar intake but also the type of foods consumed — sticky foods linger, accelerating enamel decay.—
Maria Sokolina,
Forbes,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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While tending to their garden this fall, homeowners in upstate New York spotted what appeared to be two giant teeth protruding from the soil, partially concealed by plant fronds.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
-
According to the news release, the mastodon jaw was found protruding from the topsoil, which caught the homeowner's attention.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA TODAY,
18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Johnson claimed that the round that hit him inflicted a large circular bruise on the back of his leg and caused a blood clot to form and increased his risk for additional blood clots, diminishing what had been prior to that point an active lifestyle.—
Robert Salonga,
The Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2025
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Andrew Greif Reporting from Atlanta, Ga. Will Howard injured his non-throwing hand during a semifinal victory against Texas, as cameras captured a golf ball-sized bruise swelling mid-game.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC News,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The final range figure critically—and barely—cracking 300 miles justified so much refinement in Jeep's new rolling road wind tunnel, thanks to a final Cd of 0.294.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Ars Technica,
27 Jan. 2025
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Back then, they and their rural neighbors were surrounded by rolling fields of corn, soybeans and cotton along with groves of oaks and loblolly pines.—
Ames Alexander,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2025
Verb
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With 2025 fast approaching, the start of a new year offers nonprofit professionals an opportune time to critically assess ongoing and rising trends impacting their communities and constituents.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
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Operators will have to pay $900 per ton of emissions, rising to $1,500 per ton in a few years.—
Christopher Helman,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Last month, the Biden administration proposed further expanding access to the drugs for enrollees in Medicare and Medicaid.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Many are expanding across markets.—
Alex Lazarow,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Articles Related to swelling
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Cite this Entry
“Swelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swelling. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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