crowd 1 of 2

1
as in throng
a great number of persons or creatures massed together a huge crowd of fans was on hand to greet the returning World Series champions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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crowd

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to stuff
to fit (people or things) into a tight space crowded all the boats into the harbor before the storm struck

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to flock
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers cars crowded the roads over the long holiday weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun crowd differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of crowd are crush, horde, mob, and throng. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

Where would crush be a reasonable alternative to crowd?

The words crush and crowd are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

When might mob be a better fit than crowd?

While in some cases nearly identical to crowd, mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

How do throng and horde relate to one another, in the sense of crowd?

Both throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters
a horde of shoppers

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 crowd
Noun
The manifesto also calls for the destruction of museums, libraries and universities and supports the power of the rioting crowd. Sonja Fritzsche, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025 The wand is a celebrity magnet and crowd favorite for a few key reasons. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
Shortly after, Capitol Police moved the protesters over to the side as the victims began speaking to avoid crowding the driveway of the Capitol. Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2025 The grocery aisles are getting crowded. Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crowd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crowd
Noun
  • Race day is sensory overload; a heaving throng in shorts and sneakers, in charity tops and fancy dress.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • In the accompanying music video, NBATAE, clad in a San Antonio Spurs jersey and shades, is wheeled around his neighborhood while surrounded by a throng of supporters, immediate and extended family.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The report generated concerted pushback from the scientific community.
    Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
  • An elevator connects all the different levels, with the high-altitude location offering sweeping views of the surrounding community, from downtown Boulder to the university campus to the surrounding Flatirons.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Some people seem to assume that AI is far beyond our world, and not just computers, data, and algorithms -- see my analysis of how low AI-literacy impacts the populace, at the link here.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • If Democratic messaging caters to the populace more concerned with the first objective than the latter, Hernaiz suspects their appeal will continue to wane.
    Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Gospel music played on speakers, family members served chicken soup, strangers hugged each other, friends left carrying several plates stuffed with leftover food.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Emily Meyer tries to hide medical bills from her children, stuffing them in her purse or a box under her desk at work.
    Megan Garnai, IndyStar, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In La Paz, Bolivia, people flock to a towering pine that survived a lightning strike a decade ago.
    Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Yes, foodies are flocking to this southwestern city.
    Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • More than 3,200 young Nepalis are currently huddling in an online discussion on social media messaging platform Discord to debate who will officially take part in the talks and what issues will be discussed.
    Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The Ravens had just finished a series of sprints and huddled with head coach Anthony White.
    Rich Barak, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The earthquake swarm—rare for the earthquake—prompted the South Carolina Emergency Management Division to urge residents to review earthquake preparedness steps and insurance options.
    Shane Croucher John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
  • At the same time, the side that can deploy drone swarms in larger quantities than interceptors will retain an offensive advantage.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • David Long has also played for a bunch of teams and was in Los Angeles when Evero was with the Rams, though, as stated before, his former proteges haven’t necessarily led to consistently strong results in Carolina.
    Mike Kaye September 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The linen gets softer with every wash, too, and the interior 100% polyester fill won’t shift or bunch up.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crowd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crowd. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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