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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Relevance
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
Knowing that herd bulls often circle their harems to keep intruders away, Snyder knelt and waited. — Rich Larocco, Outdoor Life, 2 Nov. 2026 Settlers descend, including on ATVs and with herds of sheep that graze on Palestinian land, and intimidate residents in incidents routinely filmed. — Suheir Hashimeh, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2026
Verb
After years of herding his state’s liberal cats, Newsom treats the new breed of progressive ideologues—New York mayor Zohran Mamdani being the exemplar—as Johnny-come-latelies. — Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026 In a remote Somali pastoral village, two twelve-year-old boys, Waasuge and Warmooge, spend their days herding goats and playing. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 Sep. 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
  • During our walk, Kewman and I came upon a flock of California quail beside the trail.
    — Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • In remote ranching outposts across the treeless plateau of Chubut province, life revolves around tending flocks on steppes and shearing sheep in sheds.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of flock
Noun
  • Sure, in 1854, the first prepacked box of Whitman's chocolates was introduced, guaranteeing to the American populace a standard of staleness, of flavorlessness, for years to come.
    — Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The idea is that voting is not the only way to drive change; demonstration is considered a bedrock value, a way to make elites hear the populace and to defend freedoms.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of populace
Noun
  • Bushby hadn’t seen his mother in a decade, setting the stage for an emotional and somewhat awkward reunion captured amid a throng of cameras and a documentary film crew.
    — Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Bushby hadn't seen his mother in a decade, setting the stage for an emotional and somewhat awkward reunion captured amid a throng of cameras and a documentary film crew.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of throng
Verb
  • Guzman has an April 2009 conviction of driving drunk and causing injury to another person in Sacramento County, according to the complaint.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The pre-Election Day surge was driven mainly by in-person voting.
    — Miles Parks, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of drive
Noun
  • The menu leans into crowd-pleasing seafood and vegetable-forward dishes, but pastas and hearty mains like a pork belly with roasted new potato and pane carasau cannot be missed.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Never before have Latinos occupied the top spots in both chambers of the Legislature and the governor’s mansion simultaneously, Rivas told the cheering crowd.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of crowd
Noun
  • On Friday evening, swarms of Dolly Parton lookalikes took over the East Village for The Frankie Shop and Unemployed’s fourth annual Halloween bash.
    — Simone Cook, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2026
  • The Southern and Northern Taurids are part of the broader Taurid Meteoroid Complex, a vast swarm of interplanetary dust, rocks, comets and asteroids thought to be related to Encke.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of swarm
Noun
  • Their software was open to inspection by parties, universities and watchdogs for 11 months before being digitally signed and sealed in public.
    — Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • And the late-night viewing public got to be a part of that process this week, thanks to Late Night With Seth Meyers.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of public
Noun
  • Instead of headline-making beefs that stand the test of time, today’s critics might be the subject of a petulant DM or a horde-summoning quote tweet.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Speaking to hordes of mostly young fans at his Masterclass and later at a press conference and multiple one-on-one interviews, the indefatigable filmmaker reflected on the current state of affairs in the world.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 24 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 8 Nov. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about herd

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