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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in increasing
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the club membership has really swelled in recent months
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 swelling
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
27 June 2026
Tender swelling, redness or warmth — sometimes with painful or frequent urination or fever — may be epididymitis, the condition Johnson had.
—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Another effective anti-swelling remedy is a delicious snack that may be hiding in the fridge.
—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
27 Oct. 2025
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
1 July 2026
Pack a few moleskin strips in your suitcase to combat foot swelling after long days of exploring.
—
Nneya Richards,
Travel + Leisure,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for swelling
Noun
Patients most often notice symptoms like swelling and fatigue, as Williams did.
—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
27 June 2026
Tender swelling, redness or warmth — sometimes with painful or frequent urination or fever — may be epididymitis, the condition Johnson had.
—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
25 June 2026
Adjective
The hope was this would mean less swelling, less pain and, potentially, a significantly faster recovery.
—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Another effective anti-swelling remedy is a delicious snack that may be hiding in the fridge.
—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
At that point, our yellow sun will start swelling into a red giant star about 100 times its current size.
—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
1 July 2026
Pack a few moleskin strips in your suitcase to combat foot swelling after long days of exploring.
—
Nneya Richards,
Travel + Leisure,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for swelling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swelling
Noun
-
Pastas, all made in house, are a solid choice too—like the Squid Ink Orecchiette with lump crab.
-
Stocklas was retired by the time of his Powerball win, which netted a lump-sum payment of $191 million.
Adjective
-
Electric motorcycles, meanwhile, have become rolling showcases for torque figures and quarter-mile times.
-
Lockups for insiders are expiring on a rolling basis in the coming weeks and months, which could add selling pressure to the stock price as index inclusion adds buying pressure.
Verb
-
As summer arrives, snow begins melting, ice hardens and rocks loosen, increasing the risk of falls and rockfall.
-
When patients can’t pay, hospitals absorb the costs and pass them onto people with insurance by increasing prices, studies show.
Verb
-
The financial struggles led to them not being able to pay vendors, which led key brands to stop sending the retailers products to sell, further accelerating its decline.
-
The move comes amid rising demand for local asset servicing, with Saudi Arabia accelerating the development of its capital markets as part of its Vision 2030 agenda.
Verb
-
The apartment's one window, protruding from the zinc roof, faces west, putting it in direct sun from midday to dusk.
-
All door handles in the ward are metal levers flush with the door, rather than protruding, to prevent patients from using them as ligature points.
Noun
-
DeLauter sustained a right rib cage fracture/bruise when colliding with the right field wall.
-
According to Globo, the woman had multiple bruises on her breasts, neck and lips.
Verb
-
And each time another first-time climber reaches the top, the applause rising from the rocks below suggests that, little by little, that community is growing.
-
Practices are seeing rising amputations, and hospitalizations are surging.
Verb
-
The 585-acre neighborhood contains 5 million square feet of office space, including 250,000 square feet of medical offices where John Muir Health has been expanding.
-
The mission won't just hunt for aliens, but rather explore these habitable planets and their atmospheres, expanding our understanding of other worlds while also being used for a variety of astronomical purposes.
Cite this Entry
“Swelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swelling. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
