Thesaurus results for GILLS

gills 1 of 2

noun (1)

plural of gill

as in girlfriends

a female romantic companion every Jack must have his Gill

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gills

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural of gill, British

as in canyons

a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage a narrow gill in the Cumbrian Mountains of the Lake District

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as in creeks

a natural body of running water smaller than a river a narrow but surprisingly deep gill runs the length of the rocky gorge

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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 gills

Noun

As water moves through their gills, it is filtered for microscopic organisms that these mollusks then consume as food. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026 These are the primary look-alike for this type of edible mushroom, and are recognizable by their true gills rather than forking folds and an orange color that gradually gets darker toward the center of the cap. — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026 Sometimes the dark marks are on the lips or the gills or even covering the fish's eyes. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 July 2026 These had a head dominated by large eyes and a partially ossified jaw—but again, no external gills. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2026 Tiny mineral deposits preserved within the gills appear to have acted as calcium stores, helping developing larvae build their shells — a process similar to what scientists observe in living freshwater mussels today. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026 This is an absolute dream machine, packed to the gills with high-octane silicon that will dominate any modern game at maximum settings. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 18 June 2026 So are Western destroying angel mushroom, which have creamy white caps and white gills. — Sacbee.com, 1 June 2026 Be prepared to be led into temptation at every corner because this tiny neighborhood is packed to the gills with luxury shopping from Bottega Veneta to Prada. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gills

Noun

Both players, arrested in the offseason on charges tied to domestic abuse involving their girlfriends, remain the subjects of ongoing league investigations.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
There was a coordinated social media effort by the NFL to allow some of the league’s star quarterbacks — namely Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow and Jaxson Dart — to have their popular girlfriends canoodling with them at preseason practices.

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of girlfriends

Noun

The last major blaze to sweep through the area was the 2018 Woolsey Fire, meaning brush in most of those canyons has not been cleared for about eight years.

— Tom Tapp, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
By morning, firefighting aircraft were back in the air dropping water on the Bryson fire in Malibu while the sound of generators purchased by outage-weary residents and business owners buzzed through the canyons.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of canyons

Noun

Also, watch for standing water and lingering flooding near creeks and streams.

— Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
McDowell County residents near rivers and creeks and in low-lying areas should relocate as soon as possible, county emergency management officials said late Saturday morning.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of creeks

Noun

This 150-acre Clayton County preserve sits near shopping centers and busy roads, but its trails wind through woodlands, ravines and ponds that feel worlds away from metro Atlanta.

— Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Many more were imperiled by muddy water racing through the narrow ravines, sparking frantic rescue missions for dozens.

— Holly Yan, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of ravines

Noun

Nearly 1 in 5 middle and high school girls reported seriously considering harming themselves in a 2023-24 survey.

— Leondra Head, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
He was convicted in June of one count of rape, four counts of gross indecency and 13 indecent assault charges involving two girls between 1985 and 2008.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of girls

Noun

The Ivy League college where fraternities throw parties in towering mansions and students weave between deep gorges on their way to class is being rocked over the handling of rape allegations from 2024.

— Grey Battle, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Cliffs teeter at 1,640 feet, before tumbling down in a flurry of vineyards and walking trails to the rushing rivers and gorges of Sil and Miño.

— Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of gorges

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gillnetters

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“Gills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gills. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of gills

noun (1)

noun (2)

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