herd 1 of 2

noun

ˈhərd How to pronounce herd (audio)
Definition of herdnext
1
as in flock
a group of domestic animals assembled or herded together the great herds of cattle that cowboys once drove across the plains

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2
as in populace
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite aspire to achieve something, to distinguish yourself from the herd

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in throng
a great number of persons or things massed together gearing up for the herd of holiday shoppers at the mall on the day after Thanksgiving

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herd

2 of 2

verb

as in to drive
to urge, push, or force onward the guards briskly herded us through the museum in order to prevent overcrowding

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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 herd
Noun
There is now little doubt that minimizing the damage from climate will require phasing down fossil fuels and reducing livestock herds. — Stephanie Walton, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026 The wars caused massive destruction of religious and civic buildings, mills and mines, housing, crops, herds and transport infrastructure, damaging prosperity and forcing some people to move or starve. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
Group events usually tend to involve a degree of herding cats, but not with those from Club GT. — Iain MacAuley, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026 The agent begins herding them toward the other side of the street. — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for herd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herd
  1. flock
  2. populace
  3. throng
  4. drive
  5. crowd
  6. swarm
  7. public
  8. horde
Noun
  • The women playing their wives inventoried the encampment and supervised a flock of children on scooters and bikes.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Let’s hope all these flock cameras that @karenbassla @gavinnewsom and everyone thinks will stop crime can find these very dangerous criminals.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of flock
Noun
  • Despite Jack’s best efforts to bring Christmas cheer to the world, his gifts horrify the populace.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The decision was ultimately reversed by a New York Supreme Court judge, on the grounds that Warren violated the populace’s religious liberties.
    — Clare Whitton, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of populace
Noun
  • Outside, a throng of revelers were waiting to navigate the same journey as Williams, McRae, and their respective entourages.
    — Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Set the scene Deep in verdant Bogawantalawa Valley, the serenity here is a welcome break from the throng of the south coast beaches.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of throng
Verb
  • These viruses infect diverse deep-sea prokaryotes that drive vital cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and metals.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The benefits of space exploration extend well beyond the Moon, potentially driving advances in energy storage, electric vehicles and other technologies on Earth.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of drive
Noun
  • Carnegie Hall seats well over 3,000 people, but this intense, no-frills performance film gives life to the old saying about feeling alone in a crowd.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • That left a thinner-than-expected crowd, mostly made up of local executives, to hear the kingdom seek deeper international cooperation to secure energy supplies and trade routes.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of crowd
Noun
  • However, don't expect a repeat in 2026 — the next predicted Taurid fireball swarm isn't expected until 2032.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of sending one expensive robot to do a job, a swarm of cheaper hopping ones could monitor water and soil, inspect oil refineries, and explore other locations that are difficult to reach.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of swarm
Noun
  • Bryan was interested but too busy taking his company, Parsley Energy, public.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • But public officials might get pushback from an AI-anxious public for relying so heavily on technology to enforce laws.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of public
Noun
  • For the past couple of months, the Editorial Board and a veritable horde of guest columnists have been fixated on the mayor and his stance on Israel.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The night before, amid the horde at the opening of Thaddaeus Ropac’s Georg Baselitz show, actor Damian Lewis was sizing up the big canvases.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of horde

Phrases Containing herd

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herculean
herd
herded
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Cite this Entry

“Herd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herd. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on herd

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about herd

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