droves

noun

plural of drove
1
as in throngs
a great number of persons or creatures massed together people flocked to the annual festival in droves

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in flocks
a group of domestic animals assembled or herded together a drove of cattle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 droves Expect droves to gather from Titusville to Cocoa Beach for a chance to view the launch. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 When the news broke, Phillips said, droves of Dollyologists reached out to her to share in the grief. — Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 27 Aug. 2026 Their fledgling relationship has provided a bright spot for droves of fans around the globe who are mourning the death of Shadow's longtime partner, Jackie, following a mysterious illness earlier this month. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 The combined success of these blockbusters — not to mention the droves of smaller-scale films doing their part — has helped vault the domestic box office back to numbers many prognosticators thought were ancient history. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Aug. 2026 The bust, however, began as soon as the early 1880s and droves of residents began to leave. — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 27 July 2026 Video from The Associated Press showed protesters gathering together to push over the tall yellow barricades and sometimes climbing atop them as droves of Delhi Police stood guard in riot gear. — Connor Greene, Time, 22 July 2026 Lashlee took plenty of heat for this in the comments section, as droves of JMU fans flooded On3 reporter Brett McMurphy's post with taunts and jeers. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026 The Aragon, which later generations experienced mainly as a shabby, sticky home for loud rock music, was once the North Side’s hub for romance, where young men and women came in droves to dance to mellow music in an elegant atmosphere. — Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for droves
  1. throngs
  2. flocks
  3. swarms
  4. hordes
  5. crowds
Noun
  • Why then, are throngs of armchair analysts online pointing fingers at her ex-husband, Patrick, blaming him for the deaths?
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The new 47-key Orient Express Venezia is an experience, housed within Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in the oldest and northernmost Cannaregio district, drawing high-end travelers away from the throngs.
    — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of throngs
Noun
  • Editor’s pick More picks A rare bird draws flocks of Southern California birders to this Irvine marsh to get a glimpse.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Kessler recalls the sound of flocks of birds that were often nearby picked up by the microphones.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of flocks
Noun
  • The dearth of Patriot interceptors in Europe would leave few alternatives for shooting down Russia’s more advanced ballistic missiles, which can be combined with swarms of inexpensive drones to overwhelm defenses, experts say.
    — Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers envision eventually deploying swarms of specialized cyborg insects rather than relying on a single multifunctional machine.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of swarms
Noun
  • Chino Hills State Park is almost never crowded, except during a spring super bloom, when the hillsides erupt in California poppies and hordes of would-be influencers arrive to take photos for Instagram.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Since it was designated the first national recreation area in 1964, hordes of visitors have cut Lake Mead’s glassy surface with jet skis and boats, carelessly dropping belongings that may now wash up on shore.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of hordes
Noun
  • Its first regional drive-through shop opened in February 2024 in Fountain Valley, drawing pre-dawn crowds on opening day.
    — Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026
  • There were huge crowds each day at the BMW event, testing Woodland’s physical and mental endurance.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of crowds

Browse Nearby Words

drovers
droves
drown
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Droves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/droves. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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