SHELLS Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

shells 1 of 2

noun

plural of shell

as in sheaths

something that encloses another thing especially to protect it eating oysters straight out of their shells

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shells

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of shell

as in peels

to remove the natural covering of shelling peanuts

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as in bombs

to use bombs or artillery against the enemy shelled the city for days without letup

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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

Noun

An artillery crew soldier from the Separate Rifle Battalion of the National Police in the Zaporizhzhia region prepares shells for a 155-mm Bosnian M94 howitzer in a dugout during a combat mission in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on October 15, 2026. — Anastasiia Parafeniuk, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026 Older heated jackets were bulky outer shells meant to be seen. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 Instead, take the oysters off the heat once the shells have begun to pop and the meat inside has firmed slightly while remaining juicy. — Amber Love Bond, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2026 Most snails coil their shells to the right, a condition known as dextral coiling. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 The idea of recycling lobster, crab, or shrimp shells isn’t exactly new. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026 Beaten about alone in that water, the shells would have killed me. — Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026 The models ran agents that had access to common exploitation tools, like reverse shells. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026 For example, the United States bought 155-millimeter artillery shells from South Korea and PAC-3 interceptors from Japan to backfill American munitions for Ukraine. — Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 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

In a slow cooker, shrimp become bouncy and rubbery, and fish flakes apart into dry sheaths of overcooked flesh.

— Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 6 Sep. 2026
The research team says future versions may use adjustable sheaths or elastic materials to fit a wider range of bodies.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of sheaths

Noun

For New Wave, Ropion and McCurtin looked to one of perfumery’s most enduring structures—the amber accord—and considered how to reinterpret it for today.

— Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
Rates and fee structures for checking and savings accounts are subject to change, and interest rates can rise or fall along with the federal funds rate.

— Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of structures

Noun

Pemberley exteriors and grounds scenes were filmed at Lyme Park, an estate in the Peak District south of Manchester.

— Nicholas DeRenzo, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
Prime Day Outdoor Deals Making your exteriors feel like an extension of your interior design is more than achievable with Amazon Prime Day’s leftover deals on patio furniture and decor.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of exteriors

Verb

The crust of the tangible world peels away, and hidden spiritual and moral realities become prominent and unmistakable.

— Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
Across the conference table, Sosanya plays Beatrice like steel swaddled in cashmere, while Miles Jupp, as her colleague David, peels away his genteel snobbery to reveal an unexpectedly dorky underbelly.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of peels

Noun

Businesses face a growing body of legislation, reporting requirements and regulatory frameworks that can potentially overlap.

— Ben Vanpeperstraete, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
This theory, also known as active inference or the free energy principle, has become one of the most important frameworks in neuroscience for understanding how the brain works as a whole.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of frameworks

Noun

Employees are using a chlorine solution with chemical cleaners to sanitize food contact surfaces while dish machine is inoperable.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Chalking, per university rules that dictate when, where and how students can protest, is not allowed on walls and vertical surfaces.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026