1
2
as in masses
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite
aspire to achieve something, to distinguish yourself from the herd
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in swarms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of herds
Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Coyotes also manage urban deer populations — a critical ecosystem function because ballooning deer herds can decimate forests, stunt plant growth and contribute to invasive species influxes.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 17 Feb. 2026
While the cattle industry is cyclical, the current contraction has lasted longer than expected because there’s a lot more money to be made selling animals for slaughter while very young rather than keeping them to expand herds.
—Enda Curran, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
In Wisconsin, dairy farms are smaller, herds are smaller, and cows are usually sent out to pasture to graze in good weather, which is not easy to come by in Wisconsin.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
The land, which is home to herds of pronghorn antelope, mountain lions, wolves, mule deer and groves of aspen trees, was originally planned for geothermal development when Santa Clara city leaders bought it nearly 50 years ago.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
The park offers one of the most exciting wildlife experiences in Southern Africa, with a million acres of biodiverse savannas, wetlands, and montane rainforests, and a range of animals that includes buffalo herds, lion prides, and an array of birds.
—Lisa Grainger, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
The alpine pastureland is home to herds of goats and cows and small families of shepherds who have worked the land for lifetimes.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2026
Success stories include the reintroduction of eastern black rhino and the return of large elephant and buffalo herds.
—Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2026
Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
Pulling off a similar outcome for beef prices will be hard given the industry’s complex supply chain and the long lead time to replenish herds.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Coyotes also manage urban deer populations — a critical ecosystem function because ballooning deer herds can decimate forests, stunt plant growth and contribute to invasive species influxes.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 17 Feb. 2026
While the cattle industry is cyclical, the current contraction has lasted longer than expected because there’s a lot more money to be made selling animals for slaughter while very young rather than keeping them to expand herds.
—Enda Curran, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
In Wisconsin, dairy farms are smaller, herds are smaller, and cows are usually sent out to pasture to graze in good weather, which is not easy to come by in Wisconsin.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
The land, which is home to herds of pronghorn antelope, mountain lions, wolves, mule deer and groves of aspen trees, was originally planned for geothermal development when Santa Clara city leaders bought it nearly 50 years ago.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
The park offers one of the most exciting wildlife experiences in Southern Africa, with a million acres of biodiverse savannas, wetlands, and montane rainforests, and a range of animals that includes buffalo herds, lion prides, and an array of birds.
—Lisa Grainger, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
The alpine pastureland is home to herds of goats and cows and small families of shepherds who have worked the land for lifetimes.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2026
Success stories include the reintroduction of eastern black rhino and the return of large elephant and buffalo herds.
—Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
However, one quick look at what companies like Boston Dynamics has achieved with robots like the rather creepy dog-like ‘Spot,’ who herds sheep in New Zealand, and the possibilities seem endless.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herds
Noun
-
Most of those cases have been reported in commercial flocks in Lancaster.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
In a typical spring, migrating geese lay eggs in the Hoffs’ backyard and flocks of small grey-and-white birds fill the air.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Then, astronomers believe, denser swarms of pebbles within that disk also collapsed much like the original cloud, forming kilometer-scale planetesimals.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Autonomous swarms, faster response Marple said the next step is automation of low-level control and coordinated swarming behavior.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There’s a two-story vaulted window with a view of the hillside, a keyboard, a sofa, crates for when Fleming drives up with his three rescue dogs (Daysy, Erik, and Luchie, two pit mixes and a miniature poodle), and a vintage Mork & Mindy poster on the wall.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
-
That silver spot price is what drives the baseline value of silver coins.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The monks captivated much of the country and even world, drawing throngs of supporters in cities from across the trek with their simple message of peace, compassion and unity.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The 59-year-old grumbled that gladhanding throngs of supporters in dusty villages had left him prey to bugs and viruses.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That changed a bit on a sunny Saturday in San Francisco, the contest assuming a smidgen of campaign heat — chanting crowds, sign-waving supporters, call-and-response from the audience — as the state party held its annual convention in this bluest of cities.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
As Jesus entered the city, crowds greeted him by waiving palm branches, which is where the name Palm Sunday originated from.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Many of the companies that are cutting hordes of jobs – and blaming it on AI – had swelled in size during the pandemic years, when tech companies were meeting demand for online services.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Retention of casual viewers is a nut that’s notoriously hard to crack, and NASCAR isn’t alone in trying to convert its hordes of curiosity seekers.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
European publics are less diplomatic.—
Ivan Krastev,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
-
National and international publics relate directly to these leaders, who set the tone for international relations with their actions, their statements, and their preferences.—
MICHAEL KIMMAGE,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
But the arrangement also meant tiny villages in the Alps weren't totally overrun with mobs of people.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
23 Feb. 2026
-
When Mose Norman, a prosperous Black farmer, attempted to cast his ballot, white mobs retaliated with brutal force.—
Debbie Deland,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Herds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herds. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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