mass 1 of 3

1
2
as in loads
a considerable amount I have a mass of work to do tonight

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in body
a distinct and separate portion of matter a mass of leaves in a corner of the yard

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4
5
as in majority
the largest part or quantity of something believes that the great mass of voters are in the political center and consider themselves neither conservative nor liberal

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6
as in throng
a great number of persons or creatures massed together a huge mass of people had gathered in the park to protest the government's latest policy

Synonyms & Similar Words

mass

2 of 3

adjective

mass

3 of 3

verb

as in to accumulate
to gradually form into a layer, pile, or mass clouds massing on the western side of the mountain range

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mass different from other nouns like it?

The words bulk and volume are common synonyms of mass. While all three words mean "the aggregate that forms a body or unit," mass suggests an aggregate made by piling together things of the same kind.

a mass of boulders

Where would bulk be a reasonable alternative to mass?

While the synonyms bulk and mass are close in meaning, bulk implies an aggregate that is impressively large, heavy, or numerous.

the darkened bulk of the skyscrapers

In what contexts can volume take the place of mass?

The words volume and mass are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, volume applies to an aggregate without shape or outline and capable of flowing or fluctuating.

a tremendous volume of water

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 mass
Noun
Lean muscle mass is connected to metabolism; it's connected to our brain activity. Mara Gordon, NPR, 8 May 2025 Before that, a mass shooting took place in Memphis, leaving a 22-year-old man dead and five others injured. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
Adjective
However, most Americans do not have the day off of work, and planning a protest for the middle of the workweek is a tricky proposition for mass attendance. Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 1 May 2025 Humanoid robots will begin a mass adoption trend for commercial use as early as 2028, according to a new Bank of America research report. John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Verb
His reasoning was that the skillset of American workers is drastically different to those in tech export countries, and that there would not be the workforce necessary to mass produce iPhones if they were brought to the U.S. alone. Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 Perfect for containers or massing in sunny beds and borders. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mass
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mass
Noun
  • Historian William Dalrymple traces the current sectarian divisions to the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb, who shattered the empire’s religious pluralism by trying to impose orthodox Islam on the populace.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But those environmentalists would have recognized, at least a little, the political climate: a corrupt Republican Administration and an energized populace willing to take to the streets.
    Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Lori Leonard's body was discovered in a metal toolbox found in the Lake Champlain Canal.
    Chris Young Ritzen, CBS News, 9 May 2025
  • In time, his body would recover, but the mental scars proved harder to heal.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Your napper should be about 10% of your body weight.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
  • Excess body weight can also put excessive strain on knee joints, leading to issues that may otherwise be avoided.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • The majority of new graduates surveyed plan to pursue careers in some traditionally lucrative fields including business, healthcare, computer technology, and finance.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 10 May 2025
  • Second, the majority of those runs have been allowed by Wandy Peralta (eight) and Sean Reynolds (four), who are not a part of the high-leverage crew.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • Like his previous court appearances, throngs of fans showed up to support Mangione outside the courthouse in Lower Manhattan, many waiting in line to secure a spot for viewing the proceedings.
    Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • After each vote, the ballots are burned and smoke is released from the Sistine Chapel's chimney as a signal to the throngs holding vigil in St. Peter's Square.
    Phoebe Natanson, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The higher yields come amid weakening investor confidence in U.S. assets and the sell-off that ensued after U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs on April 2.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Beijing responded by slapping reciprocal tariffs on $50 billion worth of U.S. goods, mostly targeting U.S. agricultural products worth some $16.5 billion — a trade war that saw the loss of a quarter of a million U.S. jobs by January 2021, according to the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC).
    Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Department of Water and Power accumulated the most overtime pay: $426 million.
    Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Since 2020, content creator Remi Bader had accumulated millions of TikTok followers by offering her opinions on the fits of popular clothing brands as a plus-size woman.
    Jess Rauchberg, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Through shocking testimonies from government insiders, confidential documents, and private audio recordings from the highest level of the military, BODYGUARD OF LIES exposes the tangled web of deception fed to the American public by the U.S. government during its 20-year war in Afghanistan.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 May 2025
  • However, opinion polls show the Israeli public increasingly wants a deal to bring back the remaining 59 hostages still held in Gaza and there were angry scenes outside parliament with dozens of protesters scuffling with police.
    Maayan Lubell, USA Today, 6 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mass.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mass. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

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