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 Even after winning just 34 games last season, the Spurs are well-positioned for a timeline-altering move — armed with young talent, a clean cap sheet and roster flexibility in addition to a horde of draft capital (San Antonio has 13 first-round picks through 2032). Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 14 June 2025 World-building Epics The Walking Dead Both an apocalyptic drama and a world-building epic, AMC’s The Walking Dead has everything a fan of The Last of Us could want: a horde of undead, beloved characters, and great action. Barry Levitt, Time, 26 May 2025 Cue a horde of amateur fossil enthusiasts excitedly scouring their travertine for signs of important archaeological finds. Ashley Belanger – May 22, ArsTechnica, 22 May 2025 Viewers were able to see the adult cat nestled in a barn pen, looking completely at ease as a horde of tiny kittens surrounded her. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for horde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horde
Noun
  • The swarm to support his latest move marked the latest bit of whiplash across the MAGA ranks as they have been divided since the Saturday strikes.
    Al Weaver, The Hill, 25 June 2025
  • In another, a suspect was tackled to the pavement near a bench as a swarm of police closed in around him.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Two National Guard members were stationed outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, surrounded by a throng of reporters surveying the graffiti and aftermath of Tuesday night’s protest.
    Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
  • As European cities grapple with overtourism, many have implemented tax hikes on tourists in an effort to curb the throngs of visitors.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • Just jump on a return train for a few minutes back to Rougemont and a world devoid of the larger international crowds that descend upon swanky Gstaad just a few miles up the road.
    John Oseid, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The Brat star drew one of the weekend’s biggest crowds for her set on the festival’s second-biggest stage; The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo were booked for Pyramid, while Loyle Carner and The Prodigy joined her on the Other.
    Thomas Smith, Billboard, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • There were live decoys trained to fly out and entice entire flocks of wild Canadas coming in from the upcountry breeding grounds.
    Nash Buckingham, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2025
  • All the life of the field startles and a flock of starlings flush holding the shape of the flames.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • He’s been trying really from the beginning to bring the 10 Black mob families together.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 June 2025
  • The driver was arrested for alleged vehicular assault as a mob formed and continued to slash more tires.
    Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Horde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horde. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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