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
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
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Recent Examples of swelling
Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
And, in Nyoni’s masterly control of tone, feeling is an incremental swelling—a prevalence of teal-blue tones gives way to more and more blood-red flashes—that is also a doubleness, an overlap: these are the colors the cousins wear at the funeral, the colors on the face of a helmeted guinea fowl.
—Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025
Other common—but serious—side effects that may happen are brain swelling and bleeding.16
Summary
Alzheimer's disease is a medical condition that results in worsening memory loss over time.
—Ross Phan, Pharmd, Bcacp, Bcgp, Bcps, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2025
See a healthcare provider if lymph node swelling persists, is painful, or occurs with symptoms like fever or unexplained weight loss.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swelling
Noun
Her foot is healing nicely, however the podiatrist warned her that the pain and swelling could last up to six months.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
And, in Nyoni’s masterly control of tone, feeling is an incremental swelling—a prevalence of teal-blue tones gives way to more and more blood-red flashes—that is also a doubleness, an overlap: these are the colors the cousins wear at the funeral, the colors on the face of a helmeted guinea fowl.
—Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025
Other common—but serious—side effects that may happen are brain swelling and bleeding.16
Summary
Alzheimer's disease is a medical condition that results in worsening memory loss over time.
—Ross Phan, Pharmd, Bcacp, Bcgp, Bcps, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2025
See a healthcare provider if lymph node swelling persists, is painful, or occurs with symptoms like fever or unexplained weight loss.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swelling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swelling
Noun
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The appearance of lumps, wart-like growths, or open sores that don't heal within a few weeks is also a significant sign.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2025
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However, during a physical provided by the WTA, the governing body of women’s tennis, the following year, another doctor encouraged Dabrowski to get the lump scanned.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
According to the study, increasing access to liquor stores by 10% resulted in a 37% increase in violent crime.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2025
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While such a significant shift cannot be attributed to one factor, Gallup’s analysis noted that the increasing diversity in the United States could play a role.—
Madeline Fitzgerald,
Quartz,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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With re-accelerating inflation on the horizon, another 5%+ inflation over the next four years could easily see gold at $5,000 an ounce.—
Clem Chambers,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
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These changes disrupt the body's delicate anabolic-catabolic balance, with testosterone promoting tissue growth and libido and cortisol accelerating breakdown and stress responses.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
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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He’s appeared in only 170 games since then due to plantar fasciitis, a bone bruise in his foot, heel issues, a broken finger, a back strain, a lower rib contusion and now further back issues.—
Beth Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2025
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Key Documentary Players Meet at CPH:DOX to Ponder Alternatives After ‘Streamers Went to the Right’ Now 20, Martin admits that the subsequent years in the rough-and-tumble entertainment business left some bruises.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Clayton supported the six-year rolling average constitutional amendment proposal formulated by Smith, the Republican tax chair.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025
-
All of this was documented in what felt like real time, in a rolling barrage of blog posts, paparazzi photos, and cable-news clips.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
15 Apr. 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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Jackson is also considering expanding her part-time interior decorating business.—
Barbara Bry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
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Instead, Apple pledged to fund a Houston data center for computer servers powering artificial intelligence — a technology the company is expanding into as part of an industrywide craze.—
Michael Liedtke,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swelling. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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