crowd 1 of 2

1
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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crowd

2 of 2

verb

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

2
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

3

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
The style-minded crowd included designers Jeffrey Banks, Frederick Castleberry and Aurora James, actor Alan Cumming, journalist Alina Cho and L’Agence’s Tara Rudes Dann, among others. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025 The celebration bring crowds from around the world each year and holds deep cultural importance for New Orleans. Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
Elsewhere, crowded Democratic primaries, including in Michigan, are likely to hemorrhage critical resources the party will need for general elections to protect incumbent seats or oust Republicans. Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2025 With his teammates crowding around him in celebration, the veteran mimed the old monkey-of-my-back motion after his first goal as a Bruin. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crowd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crowd
Noun
  • To avoid the throngs of high-season tourists, consider visiting the Italian town from March to May or September to November, during its shoulder seasons.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Even though it was closed that day (it had been shut following the robbery), throngs were there — many wondering about the crime.
    Greg Palkot, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Audiences had come to embrace B-movie glory, unusual stories, and the idea of cult midnight screenings built around the idea of outsider community.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Coastal communities were hit hardest by the storm’s devastating winds, with some remote fishing villages nearly flattened by the hurricane.
    Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • On the other hand, changing priorities for the American populace may prompt policy changes to address rising demand for certain medical specialties.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
  • That’s where the actual populace is.
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The 6-4, 330-pound Pennel, who has been part of two Chiefs Super Bowl-championship teams, is considered a run-stuffing lineman.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Made in minutes in the skillet with only precooked cornmeal, water and salt, the corn cake’s fate is to be sliced partway, then stuffed with whatever appeals.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And plenty got the memo, with crowds flocking to see the star, per footage of the events.
    Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Travelers were also expected to flock to T+L's 2025 Destination of the Year, Thailand.
    Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In the weeks that followed, Farber and his teammates huddled, brainstorming ways to support Ben.
    Nick Stern, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The spruces huddled defensively, as if expecting hard times, and the birch and aspen waved white, ineffectual arms at the snapping November wind.
    Joel M. Vance, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This powerful synergy enhances detection, tracking, classification, and identification while also enabling autonomous drone swarm operations, including self-organizing collaboration.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025
  • And then there’s Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward, two hard-hitting safeties, a swarm of the fastest linebackers in football and on and on and on.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Saban won a national title at LSU in 2003 and then a bunch more at Alabama.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2025
  • But the recent renaissance of high-end cast-iron cookware has brought back these vintage-style pans, and the Lancaster is our favorite of the bunch.
    Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crowd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crowd. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.

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