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Definition of crowdnext
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as in throng
a great number of persons or creatures massed together a huge crowd of fans was on hand to greet the returning World Series champions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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1
as in to stuff
to fit (people or things) into a tight space crowded all the boats into the harbor before the storm struck

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to flock
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers cars crowded the roads over the long holiday weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun crowd differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of crowd are crush, horde, mob, and throng. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

Where would crush be a reasonable alternative to crowd?

The words crush and crowd are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

When might mob be a better fit than crowd?

While in some cases nearly identical to crowd, mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

How do throng and horde relate to one another, in the sense of crowd?

Both throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters
a horde of shoppers

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 crowd
Noun
Judicial opinions have largely focused on crimes of negligence, road rage or driving while intoxicated, and in rare instances, cases where someone purposefully drove their car into a crowd of people. ABC News, 14 July 2026 Despite heat waves, severe weather, massive crowds and potentially unfamiliar cultures or languages, Fan Fest’s volunteers and ConnectKC26’s bus drivers are continuously praised across related posts. Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
Verb
Sant Pol de Mar swaps crowded stretches of sand for quieter coves, whitewashed buildings and a noticeably calmer atmosphere than Barcelona. Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 This movement can leave some areas crowded with cells while others contain too few. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for crowd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crowd
Noun
  • The funeral processions began last Saturday, with authorities shutting down streets, airspace and daily life in Tehran and other cities as throngs commemorated the man who led Iran for decades with an iron fist while confronting the West.
    Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
  • Egyptian fans in the 300 level of the stadium were outnumbered but felt brave enough to taunt the throngs of Argentines behind them.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • The community's collective action successfully forced this specific rollback, though the broader strategy of in-game purchases persists.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • The success of that provision depends on whether these local communities decide to build, though.
    Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Noun
  • His profiteering has drawn criticism from even the traditionally conservative editorial boards at the Wall Street Journal and New York Post, as well as the broader American populace.
    Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 2 July 2026
  • The ongoing diversification of the American populace ensures that Latin American rhythms, jazz subgenres and electronic innovations will continue to redefine what the nation will sound like moving forward.
    Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The bánh cuốn đặc biệt — a combination plate with plain steamed rice sheets, sheets stuffed with ground pork and mushroom and pieces filled with shrimp — satisfied my internet FOMO cravings.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
  • Surveillance video outside city hall showed political operatives stuffing stacks of ballots into public drop boxes.
    Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • As Argentina fans flock to Atlanta ahead of the FIFA World Cup semifinal, Underground Atlanta is once again turning into Underground Argentina.
    Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
  • The scenes that would soon unfold were unclear as Spieth picked up his tee and started walking, all while a hundred or so fans in rain jackets flocked toward a large hill.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Locals have spotted groups of people in Korea jerseys huddled together, trying to decide what to order at In-N-Out.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • The two men later huddled, in an encounter that hasn’t previously been reported.
    Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Noun
  • Tehran has leaned on this asymmetric approach for decades, betting that a swarm of small, hard-to-detect boats can offset its lack of larger, more advanced submarines.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 2026
  • Less than two months later a swarm of earthquakes ripped along the ridge.
    Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • This World Cup, a bunch of people decided to gamble millions on whether soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo would cry during a match.
    Jon Sarlin, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • There were just a bunch of drunk guys at the mansion and a couple Playboy bunnies that were contractually hired to walk around and wave.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Crowd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crowd. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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