1
as in cramming
to fit (people or things) into a tight space
crowded all the boats into the harbor before the storm struck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in flocking
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers
cars crowded the roads over the long holiday weekend
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in huddling
to gather into a closely packed group
everyone crowded around to see the baby being shown off by his proud parents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 crowding
Opponents are aware of this, crowding space and stopping his ball-carrying strengths, so getting the England international to perform at his best is vital.
—
Carl Anka, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Her family is careful about visitors, too; the neighbor kids, for example, wave and shout greetings from the doorway instead of crowding inside.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Keep in mind that SpaceX is not the only one crowding the sky.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2026
This will prevent crowding and keep diseases away.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
More than 70 people filled KC Craft Ramen on Monday night, crowding around tables and lining the walls.
—J.m. Banks
march 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
Draft analysts argue the short arms could lead him to struggle from keeping blockers from crowding him and getting to his body.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
On tap are matchups against the other two teams crowding the top of the WCC standings.
—Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
In multiple instances, halls meant to seat 100 people had nearly three times that number attempting to squeeze in, crowding doorways just to catch a few minutes of the discussion.
—The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
Carl Anka, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Her family is careful about visitors, too; the neighbor kids, for example, wave and shout greetings from the doorway instead of crowding inside.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Keep in mind that SpaceX is not the only one crowding the sky.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2026
This will prevent crowding and keep diseases away.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
More than 70 people filled KC Craft Ramen on Monday night, crowding around tables and lining the walls.
—J.m. Banks
march 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
Draft analysts argue the short arms could lead him to struggle from keeping blockers from crowding him and getting to his body.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
On tap are matchups against the other two teams crowding the top of the WCC standings.
—Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
In multiple instances, halls meant to seat 100 people had nearly three times that number attempting to squeeze in, crowding doorways just to catch a few minutes of the discussion.
—The Ai Insider, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crowding
Verb
-
Buchanan, unaware of the extent of Mayne’s star power, picked up the roughly 6-foot-4 Pritzker Prize-winner from the airport, cramming him into her Nissan Sentra.—
Trevor Bach,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Cars registered to the UAE were not being allowed over the border, which led to Heliövaara moving his two children’s car seats as the desert sun beat down, as well as the five people plus six bags eventually cramming into one car.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Of course, loyal customers already knew that, flocking in for hearty meatloaf and smothered pork chops.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Whatever the motivation, residents have been flocking to the city’s Community Yard Sale Series both as shoppers and vendors.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The final days of our ordeal blurred into a nightmare of torment, wandering while daylight lasted and huddling under open shelters at night, shaking with cold.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Soon there were nearly 50 people huddling under umbrellas around the back of Thompson's car, some of whom had parked at the neighboring Northstar Family Church and walked through the wet grass and puddles to join the growing crowd.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The lady beetles emerging in spring actually entered your home in the fall, squeezing through small cracks to overwinter inside walls, attics, and other sheltered spaces.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Equipped with a deep high-rise waistband featuring internal power mesh, Icebreaker has engineered these leggings to provide a bit of extra compression without over-squeezing.—
Harry Spampinato,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to some experts in South Florida, the invading eels could pose a similar threat to native food webs and restoration efforts there.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
12 Mar. 2026
-
In 2003, after invading Iraq, initial approval for that war dropped to about 70-75%.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With a global plastics treaty stalled and tens of thousands of items piling up per square kilometer in the Mediterranean’s deepest trench, the gap between the scale of ocean plastic pollution and the world’s response to it is only growing.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Soon, bodies are piling up as Spade, the police, O’Shaughnessy and her co-conspirators search for the relic.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fox is loading up its reboot of the famous lifeguard action drama with social media stars.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Around 24 hours after his birth, William and Kate debuted George on the famous steps of the Lindo Wing, loading him up in their waiting Range Rover to take their boy home.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
So why isn’t the ocean swarming with insects?—
Andrew Coletti,
Popular Science,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The neighbors said their quiet street northeast of Philadelphia was swarming with police on Sunday, March 8, as officers and a SWAT vehicle arrived at the Balats home and ordered everyone inside to walk out.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crowding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crowding. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
