Thesaurus results for HORDE

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

horde

noun

ˈhȯrd

Definition of 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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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 Then, a horde of onlookers zombie-stagger after Shakur and Knight, out of the casino, toward Las Vegas Boulevard. — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026 Each year, hordes of celebrities — including A-list musicians — flock to The Met in New York City to walk the red carpet in avant-garde outfits inspired by the Costume Institute’s spring theme. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 31 Aug. 2026 Another horde, the Reapers, runs around shirtless to show off their thick black tattoos. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Spanish protesters and migrants clashed with police and each other in Ceuta, one month after a horde of over 70,000 Moroccan migrants abruptly swarmed the small Spanish enclave. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for horde

Recent Examples of Synonyms for horde

Noun

There has been a string of alarming incidents in which swarms of rogue AI agents have hacked online platforms such as Hugging Face and surreptitiously communicated with one another on message boards.

— Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
After realizing a swarm of AI agents broke out of testing and hacked rival companies, OpenAI paused AI training for new models and promised to strengthen its cyber defenses.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of swarm

Noun

With her high heels, bright smile, and entourage of millennial assistants and executives, Terekh stands out in her factory, where throngs of middle-aged men lug drone parts, wield power tools and chain-smoke cigarettes.

— Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Over the past few days, the people at the front of the lines have gradually moved closer and closer to the courtroom, to the point where the doors can barely open without bumping into a throng of people.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of throng

Noun

In January, Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupted, leading officials at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park to warn visitors about heavy traffic, crowds and potential hazards.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
The 35,000-strong crowd is happy to forgive Céline Dion for what becomes a 47-minute delay.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of crowd

Noun

With several scenes showcasing flocks of pigeons, Mundruczó estimates that around 1,000 birds were used in the production — which filmed in Sydney, Australia and New York — with professional pigeon handlers present on set.

— Ellise Shafer, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
After a few minutes, there was a dive off the arch, followed by a cannonball from the next person, a backflip from a third and then other more spectacular and daring stunts from the flock.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of flock

Noun

The show, which debuted in 2025, centers on clashing mob families and stars Brosnan and Mirren as Harrigan crime family patriarch and matriarch Conrad and Maeve, respectively.

— Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
In Iran, Afghans have been attacked by mobs and baselessly accused of collaborating with Israel; some legal residents have had police tear up their documents in front of them.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of mob

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“Horde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horde. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of horde

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