horde

as in swarm
a great number of persons or creatures massed together a horde of mosquitoes hordes of tourists from the cruise ship crowded the shops and cafes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun horde differ from other similar words?

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

a throng of reporters
a horde of shoppers

When is it sensible to use crowd instead of horde?

The synonyms crowd and horde are sometimes interchangeable, but crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

When might crush be a better fit than horde?

The words crush and horde can be used in similar contexts, but crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

When can mob be used instead of horde?

The meanings of mob and horde largely overlap; however, mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

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 horde Cut to 28 days later, when Spike was rescued from a horde of infected by Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell), another original survivor who turned out to be the leader of a barbaric cult. Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025 This time it was set in a fantasy world where the player controls an elf whose race is fighting off hordes of otherworldly monsters. Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 After walking the red carpet, Elordi and Isaac gamely stopped for selfies and autographs with the hordes of fans outside the theater. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 30 Aug. 2025 Hunter’s son Joseph, 11, said that his dad has become such a celebrity at his school that staff members have to act as a buffer lest he be mauled by a horde of elementary school kids. Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for horde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horde
Noun
  • Inside, the minimalist lobby doubles as a gallery, and the in-house restaurant, The Hive, is dripping with sculptures of glowing honeycombs, kudzu vines, and swarms of bees.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025
  • But Iranians knew better, and the Friday after Jîna’s death swarms of people, mostly women, congregated in front of Kasra Hospital, overflowing with rage about seeing another one of our young women disposed of by the security state with such casual cruelty.
    Fatemeh Jamalpour, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Teasdale was wedged within the throngs of the crowds but happy to have a clear view of Kirk.
    Rick Jervis, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
  • When a World War II-era bomb is found buried under a London construction site, the authorities are determined to evacuate the throngs of innocent bystanders in the vicinity.
    Kevin Cassidy, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The Giants' pass rush should get a boost from the home crowd and prevent this from being easy for Patrick Mahomes and Co.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Other clips depict engines roaring with huge crowds and fireworks being set off.
    Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Among Sister Albertine’s growing flock of followers are many non-believers, some of whom are attracted by the curiosity of an unusual, and agreeable, figure offering a window into another world.
    Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Getty Images The designer Prabal Gurung took the fashion flock to church today.
    Blue Carreon, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The cut was used in a flash mob video posted by Julian Cohen, known for live musical performances and large gatherings of singers and performers.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Initially dismissed as an accident, Charles, Oliver and Mabel dive headfirst into the investigation, uncovering a sprawling conspiracy that stretches beyond the building’s walls and entangles New York’s old mob families with its newest billionaires.
    Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Horde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horde. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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