1
as in battalions
a large body of men and women organized for land warfare
In 218 b.c., Hannibal crossed the Alps with an army of 26,000 men and, most famously, a number of elephants
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in swarms
a great number of persons or creatures massed together
a vast army of loyal fans in line for the band's farewell concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in teams
a group of people working together on a task
an army of rescue workers descended on the tornado-stricken town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of armies
The historical fiction imagines the Mexican and American armies fighting for control of the West — part myth, fact and fiction spanning the past and present.
—
Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
These anti-peace sentiments can be quickly amplified by bot armies.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Small armies of volunteers began making food deliveries to immigrants afraid to leave their homes.
—Tim Sullivan, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
For now, millions of passengers continue to rely on the unseen armies of drivers, engineers and technicians who keep high-speed railways running safely.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Gandalf did not lead the armies of men.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 19 Jan. 2026
Instead of kings and queens cunningly maneuvering their armies against their enemies, there’s only an ox of a man and a bald little boy, neither of whom exhibits a clearly superior intellect.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Jan. 2026
Guerrilla armies roam the country’s western border, and private militias stand ready.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
In other words, just as warfare and armed conflict have evolved away from armies lined up across national borders, the right to self-defense has to be read as being capacious enough to accommodate a military response to threats such as narco-terrorism.
—Sandeep Gopalan, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
These anti-peace sentiments can be quickly amplified by bot armies.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Small armies of volunteers began making food deliveries to immigrants afraid to leave their homes.
—Tim Sullivan, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
For now, millions of passengers continue to rely on the unseen armies of drivers, engineers and technicians who keep high-speed railways running safely.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Gandalf did not lead the armies of men.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 19 Jan. 2026
Instead of kings and queens cunningly maneuvering their armies against their enemies, there’s only an ox of a man and a bald little boy, neither of whom exhibits a clearly superior intellect.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Jan. 2026
Guerrilla armies roam the country’s western border, and private militias stand ready.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
In other words, just as warfare and armed conflict have evolved away from armies lined up across national borders, the right to self-defense has to be read as being capacious enough to accommodate a military response to threats such as narco-terrorism.
—Sandeep Gopalan, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for armies
Noun
-
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans, said two infantry battalions of the Army’s 11th Airborne Division have been given prepare-to-deploy orders.—
Jack Brook,
Fortune,
19 Jan. 2026
-
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans, said two infantry battalions of the Army's 11th Airborne Division have been given prepare-to-deploy orders.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Bodies were found throughout the building, some stacked on top of one another, with swarms of bugs and decomposition fluid covering the floors, investigators said.—
Jesse Bedayn,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Bodies were found throughout the building, some stacked on top of each other, with swarms of bugs and decomposition fluid covering the floors, investigators said.—
Maria Braganini,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Terrance Gore, a baseball player whose remarkable speed earned him spots on three championship teams, including the 2020 Dodgers, died Friday, the Kansas City Royals announced on social media.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
What are Puppy Bowl 2026 teams?—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In their defense, the horn sounded, and the clock showed zeroes, so legions of Tar Heel blue stormed the court.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
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From 1883 to 1977, opulent trains operated under this banner throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, inspiring Agatha Christie’s titular 1934 mystery, along with legions of bucket-list-keepers for whom the trains represent the ne plus ultra of glamorous, old-school travel.—
Adam Erace,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Expect hordes of people on weekends during prime daytime hours, and likely a short to moderate wait around noon even on weekdays.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Each booth offered a brief refuge from the hordes moving steadily through the aisles.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
According to the Defense official, the Army plans to ramp up training over the next year, eventually sending in platoons of some 40 soldiers at a time to train.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
10 Nov. 2025
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The white officers in the 24 companies overseeing the volunteer platoons were also initially skeptical.—
Time,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Pakistan often accuses Afghanistan, where the Taliban seized power again in August 2021 as American and NATO troops were withdrawing after a 20-year war, of harboring militants and members of the Pakistani Taliban.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Feb. 2026
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It is believed to have thousands of missiles and drones that could target US troops and assets in the Middle East.—
Nadeen Ebrahim,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The 59-year-old grumbled that gladhanding throngs of supporters in dusty villages had left him prey to bugs and viruses.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
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More than twenty‑five thousand people crowded into Shibe Park, including throngs of young people who made the gathering feel more like a festival than a political convention.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Armies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/armies. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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