1
as in meetings
a coming together of a number of persons for a specified purpose
after an all-night huddle, the state legislature finally approved a budget for the coming year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in clusters
a number of things considered as a unit
saw a huddle of tents that turned out to be a Scout encampment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in groups
a usually small number of persons considered as a unit
in the lobby during intermission huddles of theatergoers were excitedly discussing the play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in piles
to gather into a closely packed group
the puppies huddled together to keep warm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 huddles
Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Over the last year and a half, different units of the system’s hospitals have started holding weekly huddles, where nurses, doctors, and hospital leaders review their performance on a set of quality metrics.
—Jessica Bartlett — Boston Globe, STAT, 21 May 2026
His huddles at times resemble a family Sunday supper after the conversation turns to politics – everyone yelling, nobody listening, Izzo’s face reddening and a whiteboard left broken, the innocent victim of all the arguing (though they are rumored to be pre-cut to avoid splintering).
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Baker-Mazara continued to walk to team huddles with a limp during timeouts but never re-entered the game.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
The head coach obviously has to lead, but a team needs other leaders, too — a coach on the floor, a voice in the non-coaching huddles.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Feb. 2026
Along with pre-match huddles and post-match laps of appreciation, those moments are how City are trying to build bonds in their new-look team.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
By sticking around, the 30-year-old was able to begin his rehab process with Denver’s training staff while also mentoring his young teammates in huddles and film sessions.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
As the buzzer sounded signaling the end of the third quarter, both teams went to their respective huddles in a tight game.
—Dan Rios, Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Vikram Joshi, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The boiler is broken, so Kuhner huddles by a small space heater in his office in the winter.
—Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
Tinos huddles close to its much more popular cousin, Mykonos, just a 20-minute ferry ride away.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
The couple huddles around a gas heater inside their home with their daughter and 4-year-old granddaughter to try and stay warm.
—Kati Weis, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Back at the castle, where the only thing haunting them is the ghosts of slain reality stars, everybody huddles to try to figure out whether to go for Ron or Colton.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2026
After almost every jump, Gu huddles with her mother and confidante, Yan, to review footage Yan recorded on her phone.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
While the team occasionally huddles, Rivers usually calls plays from the sideline.
—Sam Jane, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
In the series finale's last moments, the whole family huddles together at Claire and Phil's house to take one more group selfie.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Nov. 2025
Noun
Instead of leaving the match feed, Telemundo broadcasts what’s happening on the live pitch, including team huddles, and shows replays and analysis.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Over the last year and a half, different units of the system’s hospitals have started holding weekly huddles, where nurses, doctors, and hospital leaders review their performance on a set of quality metrics.
—Jessica Bartlett — Boston Globe, STAT, 21 May 2026
His huddles at times resemble a family Sunday supper after the conversation turns to politics – everyone yelling, nobody listening, Izzo’s face reddening and a whiteboard left broken, the innocent victim of all the arguing (though they are rumored to be pre-cut to avoid splintering).
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Baker-Mazara continued to walk to team huddles with a limp during timeouts but never re-entered the game.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 3 Mar. 2026
The head coach obviously has to lead, but a team needs other leaders, too — a coach on the floor, a voice in the non-coaching huddles.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Feb. 2026
Along with pre-match huddles and post-match laps of appreciation, those moments are how City are trying to build bonds in their new-look team.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
By sticking around, the 30-year-old was able to begin his rehab process with Denver’s training staff while also mentoring his young teammates in huddles and film sessions.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
As the buzzer sounded signaling the end of the third quarter, both teams went to their respective huddles in a tight game.
—Dan Rios, Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
An engineer overhears a sales call where a partner is requesting a specific feature and immediately huddles with the salesperson once the line clicks shut.
—Vikram Joshi, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
The boiler is broken, so Kuhner huddles by a small space heater in his office in the winter.
—Emma Green, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
Tinos huddles close to its much more popular cousin, Mykonos, just a 20-minute ferry ride away.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
The couple huddles around a gas heater inside their home with their daughter and 4-year-old granddaughter to try and stay warm.
—Kati Weis, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Back at the castle, where the only thing haunting them is the ghosts of slain reality stars, everybody huddles to try to figure out whether to go for Ron or Colton.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2026
After almost every jump, Gu huddles with her mother and confidante, Yan, to review footage Yan recorded on her phone.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
While the team occasionally huddles, Rivers usually calls plays from the sideline.
—Sam Jane, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
In the series finale's last moments, the whole family huddles together at Claire and Phil's house to take one more group selfie.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for huddles
Noun
-
Maybe someone needs a day without meetings or a desk in a quieter area of the office.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
-
The fracas played out in heated sermons, editorials, and denominational meetings.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Researchers estimate that at least 4% of the ocean's surface is covered by floating mats and clusters of seaweed, with levels expected to increase further throughout June.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
-
Bright orange milkweed aphids (Aphis nerii) usually emerge toward the end of summer and feed in clusters on the stems and leaves of common milkweed, swamp milkweed, and other milkweed plants.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Instead, groups gather on comfortable furniture and chat while sipping cocktails and dealing playing cards.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
-
Break large groups into smaller groups.—
Belonging Forum,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
More specifically — and without spoiling a story that piles the twists as high as the corpses — Pine's an ex-British soldier pulled from his porter duties and recruited to surveil a ruthless arms dealer, Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie) staying at the hotel.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The result piles more pressure on Starmer, the least popular prime minister since records began, according to some polls.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But then a heavy beat drops, and the figure crouches down into a duckwalk, moving across the walkway in a low bounce before springing up with the circling arm movements of voguing.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
-
At the other end of the pitch, Robert Lewandowski crouches down on his haunches, eyes looking everywhere and nowhere, their nothingness saying everything.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Although the structure itself has been replaced, the site has been home to community gatherings, events, concerts and celebrations for the past 130 years.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
True to the home's former owner, Swift has hosted several gatherings there, including her famed Fourth of July parties, and some have speculated the property could play a role in her upcoming nuptials to Travis Kelce.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
The batches were distilled between January 2015 and April 2016, the whiskey was aged for a full decade in char #4 barrels with char #3 heads, and it was bottled at 102 proof without chill filtration.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
13 June 2026
-
Add chicken to air-fryer basket in batches, if necessary.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Huddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/huddles. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
