horde

as in swarm
a great number of persons or creatures massed together a horde of mosquitoes hordes of tourists from the cruise ship crowded the shops and cafes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun horde differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of horde are crowd, crush, mob, and throng. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters
a horde of shoppers

When is it sensible to use crowd instead of horde?

The synonyms crowd and horde are sometimes interchangeable, but crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

When might crush be a better fit than horde?

The words crush and horde can be used in similar contexts, but crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

When can mob be used instead of horde?

The meanings of mob and horde largely overlap; however, mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

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 horde With these reassuring words spoken into a microphone, Elisa Sunga sent off a horde of cake lovers to weave around two long tables topped with 162 cakes and dig in. Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025 The best way for humans to survive has been to seal themselves off as best as possible from the rampaging hordes. Noel Murray, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025 One example: The early trailers show a massive horde of infected attacking the gates surrounding the Jackson, Wyo., community run by Maria (True Blood and Queen Sugar star Rutina Wesley), the wife of Joel's brother, Tommy (FUBAR's Gabriel Luna). Nick Romano, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025 In the back yard, hordes of patrons queued up to buy tickets. Marina Harss, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for horde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horde
Noun
  • Especially in the spring, when young dancers at the peak of their health, promise, and physical strength swarm rehearsal studios for Broadway Bares.
    Mark Harris, Vulture, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Once a new location has been identified, the swarm will move on to settle into their permanent colony.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Last night, a throng many tens of thousands deeper saw Armstrong and his main band fulfill their destiny as the holders of rock’s eternal flame.
    Jeff Miller, HollywoodReporter, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Earlier this February, at CPAC’s annual gathering, Elon Musk walked onstage to a cheering throng of young admirers and was presented with a chainsaw by Argentine president Javier Milei for his efforts with DOGE.
    Jeffrey Blehar, National Review, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The pontiff, who had been facing major health issues in the past several weeks, used an aide, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, to deliver his Easter Sunday speech to a crowd gathered at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • According to the Smithsonian, crowds spent the day viewing the animals, picnicking, and, especially popular with children, participating in the Annual Easter Egg Roll on what’s known as Lion and Tiger Hill at the zoo.
    Melissa Noel, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Later in the season, when the flock has broken up and birds have already gone through their pecking order, Drury thinks twice before running a jake.
    Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Along with caring for a pair of aging elephants, the Barcelona Zoo is also the home for a 15-year-old wolf, a leopard and a tiger who are both 17, as well as some older birds -- including a flock of senior flamencos.
    JOSEPH WILSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • There’s also another layer to the twins’ mob heist, which is that Capone had ties to the U.S. government, fostering a relationship between organized crime and government officials that would increase following World War II.
    Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Reporters from around the country followed the case, which marked the first time ever that prosecutors would play for a jury a surreptitious FBI recording of mob soldiers taking the oath of omerta during a mafia initiation ceremony.
    Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Horde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horde. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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