Synonyms of horde

horde

noun

ˈhȯrd 

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

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

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

Recent Examples of horde

But not every beach is created equal and some trade hordes of people for relaxing waves and wide-open stretches of sand. —Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2026

Supporting small business is another core Fat Cake tenet, which means giving advance warning to bakeries that a famished horde of up to 125 bicyclists is on the way. —Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026

The regular crowd shots of the waiting room too often reduce the afflicted into a zombie-like horde bent on making life more difficult for our beloved medical staff. —Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

Just seems like the Mariners’ horde of young talent leaves them far better positioned to keep their crown a little while. —Kevin Sherrington mar. 6, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026