Thesaurus results for SHELLS

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

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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

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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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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

The secondary usually consists of two-high safety shells pre-snap, rotating a safety down post-snap to confuse the quarterback and counter play action. — Gladys Louise Tyler, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Cindy said the icing process is time consuming, especially since the egg shells need to be crushed and dehydrated. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 Queen conchs live in spiral, sandy-colored shells with a bright pink or orange interior. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 In the viral footage, captured by Scott Reynolds, the curious paw could be seen rising up from the hole and grabbing at shells. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026 People further afield were killed or injured by flying shrapnel as well as by shells that exploded on impact. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026 The cheesy potato shells are probably around six to eight inches in diameter – similar to a regular flour tortilla size. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2026 Costs of simple machine gun cartridges, mortar shells and 500-pound bombs are not great. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 16 Aug. 2026 The shells and skeletons of the organisms were ground up by the ocean waves into a white sand and compacted over time, forming a distinctively smooth and homogenous stone. — Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 14 Aug. 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

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
To further the house’s connection to nature, Wright used flagstone flooring inside and out and employed large sheaths of glass windows for visual continuity.

— Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026

Definition of sheaths

Noun

Modern airborne geophysical surveys can map subsurface structures that older methods could not detect.

— Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
A lot of the objects that were made out of Secondary have to do with structures that are enacted by the body, like a power rack, for example.

— Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of structures

Noun

The exteriors were falling apart, the columns were falling apart.

— Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
Featuring exteriors by Espen Øino International, interiors by Reymond Langton Design, and naval architecture by Lürssen, Whisper (then Kismet) won a prestigious World Superyacht Award in 2015 thanks to its innovative design.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of exteriors

Verb

Nordic noir suggests the presence of violence and hatred beneath the tranquillity and order of the Scandinavian welfare state, just as Southern noir peels back hospitality and charm to reveal repressed family secrets and moral decay.

— Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
Paint peels away from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, in Washington, DC, on June 23, 2026.

— Kevin Breuninger,Terri Cullen, CNBC, 31 July 2026

Definition of peels

Noun

Well-meaning executives often draft policies, mentorship frameworks, or diversity programs behind closed doors, only to wonder why employee adoption remains low.

— Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Since 2017, Brown Faces Green Spaces pioneered the very fishing clinics, youth programming, and outdoor educational frameworks that successfully brought underserved, diverse audiences into the Indiana Dunes ecosystem.

— Kimmie Gordon, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of frameworks

Noun

Bacteria become switches The researchers used Pantoea agglomerans, a bacterium commonly found on plants and other surfaces.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
The suspension does a good job of smoothing out potholes and broken surfaces, while the relatively tall tyres fitted to 18in wheels help keep the ride composed.

— Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026