as in crowded
possessing or covered with great numbers or amounts of something specified
the museum was swarming with schoolchildren on a field trip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in flocking
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers
meeting little resistance, the pirates swarmed the decks of the merchant ship
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in bursting
to be copiously supplied
at this time of year that Mexican resort swarms with college students on spring break
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in climbing
to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling
one of the physical challenges had competitors swarming over a pile of logs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of swarming
Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Tiny eye-biting flies are swarming all over the San Gabriel Valley and pestering residents.
—Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Within hours after the Price County sheriff’s office responded to the call, the remote woods and lake area in the far northwest corner of that county was swarming with other wardens, highway patrol officers, and technicians from the state crime laboratory.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Paparazzi has been swarming the production’s early days filming in Los Angeles.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
The sky is swarming with satellites and space telescopes.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2026
Similarly in 2011, then VCU coach Shaka Smart wreaked havoc via his swarming defense all the way to the Final Four.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Mar. 2026
There’s the weekly swarming Twin Peaks run mentioned above; a less crowded ride for female, transgender and nonbinary cyclists; and a leg-burning Presidio dash for certifiably mad cyclists looking to conquer every hill in the national park before sunrise.
—Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
So why isn’t the ocean swarming with insects?
—Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
The slower movement had a swarming, rich sound.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Tiny eye-biting flies are swarming all over the San Gabriel Valley and pestering residents.
—Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Within hours after the Price County sheriff’s office responded to the call, the remote woods and lake area in the far northwest corner of that county was swarming with other wardens, highway patrol officers, and technicians from the state crime laboratory.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Paparazzi has been swarming the production’s early days filming in Los Angeles.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
The sky is swarming with satellites and space telescopes.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 18 Mar. 2026
Similarly in 2011, then VCU coach Shaka Smart wreaked havoc via his swarming defense all the way to the Final Four.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Mar. 2026
There’s the weekly swarming Twin Peaks run mentioned above; a less crowded ride for female, transgender and nonbinary cyclists; and a leg-burning Presidio dash for certifiably mad cyclists looking to conquer every hill in the national park before sunrise.
—Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026
So why isn’t the ocean swarming with insects?
—Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swarming
Adjective
-
The five lines, explained An Ichimoku cloud chart can look crowded.—
Karl Montevirgen,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
San Jose holds the second wild-card spot in the crowded Western Conference, with Nashville and Los Angeles even in points but each with one more game.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The new system allows citations to be transmitted electronically and enter the court records system pre-filled.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
This comforter is pre-filled and designed to be two inches wider than standard sizes for an extra-plush feel and complete bed coverage.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Sets by Illenium, Steve Aoki, BZRP, Vintage Culture, Armin Van Buuren, Alesso, Martin Garrix, Eric Prydz, Sara Landry, Major Lazer and others highlight a night defined by big production and packed audiences.—
Miami Herald newsroom,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Videos on the Instagram page for the restaurant show a packed establishment late at night with young people having fun and drinking, with a long line outside.—
Jesse Sarles,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The new findings are confounding scientists’ expectations, raising questions about how exactly molecules can encounter their reactive partners in a teeming, crowded space — and therefore how cells can possibly function.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Ambria Britt, who has multiple sclerosis and cannot stand for long periods, was forced to pay a stranger to push her wheelchair through the jammed line.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
-
His vehicle, loaded with explosives, caught fire and was jammed in the hallway, leading to Ghazali killing himself.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Bok globules are abundant throughout all gas-rich and dust-rich galaxies, and can be found in many different locations in our own Milky Way.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
26 Mar. 2026
-
But the political red flags are abundant right now for Republicans.—
Craig Gilbert,
jsonline.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
However, the awards are co-organised by Tokyo International Film Festival, and speculation has been rife that there were concerns about the optics had the ceremony taken place, as Japanese cinema has had a strong year and was likely to walk off with multiple prizes.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Speculation has been rife that HTC isn’t in fact manufacturing the phones internally, but had commissioned an ODM — original design manufacturer — to produce the hardware.—
Dominic Preston,
The Verge,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
As one reporter predicted three, hearts sank in the crammed quarters.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
-
When your floor space is far from generous, implementing small bedroom storage ideas is the difference between waking up in crammed quarters and having breathing room.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swarming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swarming. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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