mob 1 of 2

mob

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verb

as in to flock
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers the snack bar was mobbed as soon as the meeting was over

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun mob differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mob are crowd, crush, horde, and throng. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

Where would crowd be a reasonable alternative to mob?

While the synonyms crowd and mob are close in meaning, crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

In what contexts can crush take the place of mob?

The words crush and mob 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

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

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 mob
Noun
The two have stolen enough from warring mob families to buy an old sawmill from the Klan, with plans to transform it into a bustling watering hole for the community. A.a. Dowd, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025 Ostensibly concerning the life and times of Nick Shay, a waste-management executive, the 827-page novel encompasses mob hits, CIA schemes, the machinations of the art world and much more. Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
After her teammates mobbed her in celebration, Rodman stepped away and grabbed her lower back, pretending to seize up with pain — only to stand up tall and laugh while flipping her pink hair over both shoulders. Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025 This colorful and kinetic area was mobbed, with families running maniacally through obstacle courses to collect digital coins using a Power-Up Band ($42) and the Universal app. Todd Anderson, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mob
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mob
Noun
  • The pontiff, who had been facing major health issues in the past several weeks, used an aide, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, to deliver his Easter Sunday speech to a crowd gathered at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • According to the Smithsonian, crowds spent the day viewing the animals, picnicking, and, especially popular with children, participating in the Annual Easter Egg Roll on what’s known as Lion and Tiger Hill at the zoo.
    Melissa Noel, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The first episode of Season 2 delves into the Pagan Biker Gang, and the rest of the season will unpack organizations like Fresno Bulldogs, Nuestra Familia, Black Mafia Family, Vagos and Aryan Sisters of Texas.
    Abigail Lee, Variety, 22 Apr. 2025
  • President Donald Trump and his allies in power are trying to erect an authoritarian Mafia state like the one Vladimir Putin and his cronies established in Russia.
    Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Historian William Dalrymple traces the current sectarian divisions to the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb, who shattered the empire’s religious pluralism by trying to impose orthodox Islam on the populace.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But those environmentalists would have recognized, at least a little, the political climate: a corrupt Republican Administration and an energized populace willing to take to the streets.
    Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • So many players have flocked to the internet because what happened on Sunday was historic.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
  • With playing conditions tenable for baseball, fans in pinstripes flocked to Yankee Stadium and filled out the ballpark.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Last night, a throng many tens of thousands deeper saw Armstrong and his main band fulfill their destiny as the holders of rock’s eternal flame.
    Jeff Miller, HollywoodReporter, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Earlier this February, at CPAC’s annual gathering, Elon Musk walked onstage to a cheering throng of young admirers and was presented with a chainsaw by Argentine president Javier Milei for his efforts with DOGE.
    Jeffrey Blehar, National Review, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Trump administration is urging the Supreme Court not to block the deportation of Venezuelans accused of being members of the crime gang Tren de Aragua.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Homan also denied that any migrant is being labeled a gang member solely because of tattoos.
    Isabel Danzis, ABC News, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In Weill’s opinion, composers educated in the classical tradition had lost touch with the broader public and sunk into obscurantism.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Given the isolationist tendencies of the U.S. public and Congress in the pre-war years—best exemplified by passage of the neutrality laws in the mid 1930s—Roosevelt’s ability to counter the economic autarky and expansionist aims of fascist Germany, Italy, and Japan was severely limited.
    Time, Time, 12 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Especially in the spring, when young dancers at the peak of their health, promise, and physical strength swarm rehearsal studios for Broadway Bares.
    Mark Harris, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Once a new location has been identified, the swarm will move on to settle into their permanent colony.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mob.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mob. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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