1
as in crowding
to gather into a closely packed group
the puppies huddled together to keep warm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crouching
to lie low with the limbs close to the body
huddled under her bed during a game of hide-and-seek
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 huddling
The two are seen huddling under a tree in the rain, laughing companionably.
—
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The cost of heating a home over winter is now more than some elderly couples’ pensions, Pekingnology reported, and villagers are huddling under blankets, or secretly burning firewood.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Residents endure temperatures as low as 13 degrees in their homes, huddling together under blankets and using gas stoves for heat and meals.
—Vasilisa Stepanenko, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Ohio State continued huddling in the second half and put together touchdown drives of 82 and 75 yards, keeping the Miami D-line at bay and allowing just one sack.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Longtime residents can’t forget his iconic image of flamingos huddling in the bathroom for safety against monstrous Hurricane Andrew in August 1992.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
After that whiplash start, Fleck tried to regroup his team during the quarter break, huddling up not only the defense that was on the field, but his offense and special teams players along the sideline.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
After huddling over an onX map, our small orange army decided to head for the shelter belt on the far north edge of the field.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
Groups of lawmakers have been huddling on the Senate floor and in hallways around the chamber working to craft a compromise to reopen government and extend the expiring health care tax credits and subsidies.
—Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
The cost of heating a home over winter is now more than some elderly couples’ pensions, Pekingnology reported, and villagers are huddling under blankets, or secretly burning firewood.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Residents endure temperatures as low as 13 degrees in their homes, huddling together under blankets and using gas stoves for heat and meals.
—Vasilisa Stepanenko, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Ohio State continued huddling in the second half and put together touchdown drives of 82 and 75 yards, keeping the Miami D-line at bay and allowing just one sack.
—Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Longtime residents can’t forget his iconic image of flamingos huddling in the bathroom for safety against monstrous Hurricane Andrew in August 1992.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
After that whiplash start, Fleck tried to regroup his team during the quarter break, huddling up not only the defense that was on the field, but his offense and special teams players along the sideline.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
After huddling over an onX map, our small orange army decided to head for the shelter belt on the far north edge of the field.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2025
Groups of lawmakers have been huddling on the Senate floor and in hallways around the chamber working to craft a compromise to reopen government and extend the expiring health care tax credits and subsidies.
—Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for huddling
Verb
-
Prepare to be greeted by freezing temperatures and piles of grimy snow and slush crowding the sidewalks.—
Hilary Milnes,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Could the Yankees change their tune now that Paul Goldschmidt is returning and crowding their bench?—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Nearly two dozen gunshots later, Palmer and Jones were dead, while London survived by crouching down in the backseat.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
-
There, detectives observed the men walking into an open space, crouching in nearby bushes and then fleeing the area at a high rate of speed in a vehicle, police said.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At one point, Roen said, officials even tried piling frozen beavers outside the wolves’ den to sate their hunger.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Moise, 71, was born in Port-au-Prince, came to the United States at 17 and began piling up degrees — medical from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, an MBA and a law degree at the University of Miami.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The vehicles are flexible, modular and feature advanced software for in-flight collaboration and re-targeting, and support swarming capability of autonomous aircraft.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Arnold’s very sad and wildly premature passing led to fans swarming DSPs and digital retailers to reconnect with some of his signature band’s biggest hits.—
Andrew Unterberger,
Billboard,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Huddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/huddling. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
