swelling 1 of 3

noun

ˈswe-liŋ How to pronounce swelling (audio)
Definition of swellingnext
as in lump
a small rounded mass of swollen tissue the swelling at the site of the insect bite was not too concerning

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swelling

2 of 3

adjective

as in surging

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Dissimilar Words

swelling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of swell
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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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

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
Noun
Initial flu-like symptoms quickly progress to severe skin discoloration and swelling. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 She was given a course of antibiotics and antihistamines, and told to wait three days for the swelling to go down before getting the false lashes removed. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 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
But for people with lymphedema, a health condition that causes swelling in the legs due to excess lymph fluid, lymphatic walking may be especially beneficial. — Sukhman Rekhi, Verywell Health, 10 Aug. 2026 Her legs also began swelling, and at one point, her vision temporarily went white. — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swelling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swelling
  1. lump
  2. surging
  3. increasing
  4. accelerating
  5. protruding
  6. bruise
  7. rolling
  8. rising
Noun
  • With this approach, creditors are asked to accept less than the amount owed in return for a lump-sum payment.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In 2024, a group of scientists reported that lumps of metal on the Pacific seafloor—which happened to be the target of seabed-mining operations—seemed to be producing dark oxygen.
    — James Dinneen, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of lump
Adjective
  • The move highlights how surging demand for AI computing capacity is drawing institutional investors, as governments, companies and startups race to build out data centers to support AI workloads.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of surging
Verb
  • But the drought is still hitting home with record-low water levels on the Danube River disrupting grain transport, causing chronically congested terminals and an increasing pileup of crops with nowhere to go.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Our city is not alone in the trend of increasing e-scooter injuries.
    — Narmeen Khan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of increasing
Verb
  • Analysts say the shift could reshape Africa’s automotive industry by creating jobs, developing local supply chains and accelerating adoption of electric vehicles, although weak infrastructure and policy uncertainty remain significant obstacles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In her new role, the company said Kanemitsu will oversee its strategic vision and day-to-day operations across Japan, focusing on accelerating customer success, deepening partner relationships and driving regional growth.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of accelerating
Verb
  • Akhenaten, who may have been the boy-king’s father, was depicted in artwork as having wide hips and a protruding belly, which stood out from portraits of other Egyptian royalty.
    — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The visual form demands a stark contrast between the protruding belly and the slimness of the rest of a woman’s body.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of protruding
Noun
  • With only 13 appearances last season, Clark’s playing time was severely limited due to a slew of injuries, including a left ankle bone bruise that ultimately ended her season.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Fortunately, the baby escaped with only minor cuts and bruises, and his mother also survived, ABC News reported.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of bruise
Adjective
  • Around 52 percent of museum workers were on permanent or rolling contracts with volunteers making up their second largest pool, standing at 27 percent, IMA said in the report.
    — The Editors of ARTnews, ARTnews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Premiering in Locarno’s Cinema of the Present strand should give this a good launch on the rolling concrete ups and downs of the festival skatepark circuit.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of rolling
Verb
  • During totality, the temperature could briefly fall by 18 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) before rising rapidly again once the sun reappears.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Images shared by Russian media outlets from the town of Podolsk showed columns of black smoke rising from the site.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of rising

Browse Nearby Words

swellheadedness
swelling
swellings
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Cite this Entry

“Swelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swelling. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on swelling

Nglish: Translation of swelling for Spanish Speakers

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