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mob

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verb

as in to flock
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers the snack bar was mobbed as soon as the meeting was over

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun mob differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mob are crowd, crush, horde, and throng. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

Where would crowd be a reasonable alternative to mob?

While the synonyms crowd and mob are close in meaning, crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

In what contexts can crush take the place of mob?

The words crush and mob are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

How do throng and horde relate to one another, in the sense of mob?

Both throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters
a horde of shoppers

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 mob
Noun
However, in 1921, white mobs, aided by local officials, set fire to the district, resulting in the deaths of hundreds and the displacement of thousands. Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025 Small, hairy hominids emerge — but the twist is that Superman must protect these Mole Men from the prairie mob who want to shoot the outsiders on sight. Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
Verb
The senior let out a roar in celebration as his teammates mobbed him at the dugout. Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 9 June 2025 Organizers formed a human chain to allow players to leave without being mobbed. Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mob
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mob
Noun
  • The panel called on the convention crowd to educate themselves on their rights and speak out about their concerns — and not just online.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2025
  • Designed to manipulate the masses and unveil their true demonic nature, the song draws crowds toward Gwi-Ma’s deadly flames — nearly succeeding in their sinister plan until Rumi steps in to stop them.
    Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • Tsien is on the Steering Committee for the Asian American Documentary Network (A-Doc) and is a board member of Brown Girls Doc Mafia.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 11 July 2025
  • In addition to dancing for several musicals, Louis-Fernand has also performed in various concerts and appeared in music videos with Diplo, Jesy Nelson and Swedish House Mafia, among others, according to his biography on Evita's cast site.
    Caroline Blair, People.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • But the deeper concern goes beyond ice crystals, to the notion that government agencies are trying to poison the populace or affect weather patterns through geoengineering.
    Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 July 2025
  • And so, Frank and Dennis took to shaking down the populace after Frank sprang for two police uniforms, Dee beat the hell out of the unhoused masturbator, and Charlie seized upon his undercover Serpico cop role to attempt a series of stings on his fellow corrupt fake cops.
    Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Celebrity tans are approaching early-aughts amber, and if dermatologists’ observations and social media are any indication, teens are flocking to the beach in pursuit of scorching burns.
    Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 19 July 2025
  • Avid viewers flocked to the comments section of an Instagram post shared by HGTV on Thursday, July 3, to express their disappointment in the network’s decision to discontinue several top shows.
    Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • Last season, before the final home series, Getz spoke to a throng of media inside the tunnels of Rate Field in Chicago.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 7 July 2025
  • Along with the headline-grabbing job culls in the federal government which began earlier this year, a throng of companies have already laid off workers so far in 2025, including Microsoft, UPS, Dell, BP and others.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • America's brave men and women are removing murderers, MS-13 gang members, pedophiles, rapists—truly the worst of the worst from Golden State communities.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
  • The cartels have also made use of the city’s entrenched street gangs, which have proven more than capable of breaking down the product and delivering it to the streets.
    Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • However, much of the American public didn’t buy that Epstein committed suicide.
    Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 18 July 2025
  • In Gallup’s 2024 honesty and ethics survey, the general American public's trust in 11 core professions, when averaged, was at a historic low.
    Emily Reynolds, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • The floor is peppered with spare knee pads and helmets, and a swarm of roller derby players outfitted in protective armor congregate in the center of the warehouse.
    Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
  • If a task can be performed in more than one way by equal peers working together—much in the way an ant colony or swarm of bees works—then the system is resistant to censorship and hardware faults and has service continuity due to economic sustainability.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mob.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mob. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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