Synonyms of throng

throng 1 of 2

noun

ˈthrȯŋ 

as in crowd

a great number of persons or creatures massed together

grabbed a megaphone and addressed the vast throng

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crowd
• swarm
• flock
• horde
• multitude
• mob
• legion
• army
• mass
• masses
• herd
• press
• host
• drove
• rout
• crush
• bike
• millions
• rabble
• cram
• scrum
• gaggle
• pile
• heap
• riffraff
• mountain
• rabblement
• jam
• logjam

throng

2 of 2

verb

as in to flock

to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers

fans thronged the field to celebrate the win

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flock
• mob
• crowd
• invade
• swarm
• beset
• overrun
• dam
• infest
• plug (up)
• obstruct
• jam
• clog

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun throng differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of throng are crowd, crush, horde, and mob. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters

a horde of shoppers

When might crowd be a better fit than throng?

While in some cases nearly identical to throng, crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

When can crush be used instead of throng?

The synonyms crush and throng are sometimes interchangeable, but crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

Where would mob be a reasonable alternative to throng?

The words mob and throng are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of throng

Noun

There certainly seem to be apparitions in this music, some presence apart from the four musicians and the throngs of fans, which is intensified by the visceral collision of so many sounds. —Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 27 Apr. 2026

And at a party held in Georgetown by UTA, some members of a throng of attendees mused about the direction of CBS News. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026

Verb

Gingham is the ultimate European-summer print, and this playful shorts set is perfect for picnics by the Eiffel Tower or, better yet, along the Canal Saint Martin or in the Buttes Chaumont Park, which are less thronged by tourists. —Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2026

In Chula Vista, protesters thronged to a sidewalk outside a Red Lobster on H Street, amid a din of whistles and car horns. —Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026