whelks

noun

plural of whelk
as in blisters
a small, inflamed swelling of the skin unsightly whelks covered the beggar's face

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 whelks Search for shells at the shoreline, and you'll be surprised by the amount of perfectly intact, yet tiny whelks, cockles, and olive shells. — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 20 June 2026 Smaller critters — hermit crabs, lightning whelks and snails — skittered along the seafloor. — Max Chesnes, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026 And for those looking to collect shells, this is the place for rare angel wings, whelks, and sand dollars. — Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whelks
  1. pustules
  2. pimples
  3. boils
Noun
  • The infected children reported a range of skin and soft tissue symptoms, including spots, pustules, blisters, and abscesses.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • This causes small but often painful red pustules that cluster at the places where the hairstyle is pulling the tightest.
    — Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pustules
Noun
  • Dermatologists can tailor treatments, from over-the-counter creams to prescription medications; avoid picking pimples, which can worsen inflammation and increase scarring.
    — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Picking may be directed at healthy skin, hair, scalp, pimples, or moles.
    — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of pimples
Noun
  • There are also casual cafes to grab a bite to eat or a drink, serving everything from beignets and Italian specialties to seafood boils and espresso drinks.
    — Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2026
  • At sufficiently low pressure, warm seawater boils at a temperature far below the usual 100 °C (212 °F).
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of boils

Browse Nearby Words

whelk
whelks
whelm
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All