Synonyms of mob

mob 1 of 2

noun

ˈmäb 

1

as in crowd

a great number of persons or creatures massed together

a mob of pigeons soon flocked around us after they spied the bread crumbs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crowd
• throng
• swarm
• horde
• flock
• army
• multitude
• legion
• mass
• herd
• press
• masses
• crush
• drove
• rout
• bike
• host
• rabble
• scrum
• millions
• cram
• gaggle
• riffraff
• mountain
• rabblement
• heap
• pile
• jam
• logjam

2

as in Mafia

a group involved in secret or criminal activities

the club owner was accused of having connections with a mob of racketeers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• Mafia
• gang
• syndicate
• conspiracy
• clan
• crew
• network
• ring
• cabal
• clique
• crowd
• bunch
• coven
• coterie
• circle
• pack
• junta
• lot
• set
• oligarchy
• galère

3

as in populace

the body of the community as contrasted with the elite

political speeches designed to appeal to the mob

Synonyms & Similar Words

• populace
• crowd
• public
• people
• mass
• commoners
• millions
• commons
• multitude
• herd
• plebeians
• plebs
• rank and file
• cattle
• rabble
• proletariat
• scum
• hoi polloi
• rout
• riffraff
• unwashed
• bourgeoisie
• trash
• rabblement
• middle class
• tag, rag, and bobtail
• ragtag and bobtail

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elite
• aristocracy
• cream
• flower
• elect
• choice
• pride
• fat
• upper crust
• A-list
• pink
• society
• pick
• best
• nobility
• corps d'elite
• royalty
• quality
• gentry
• patriciate
• gentility
• gentlefolk
• peerage
• haute monde

mob

2 of 2

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

• flock
• crowd
• swarm
• invade
• throng
• beset
• infest
• overrun
• dam
• jam
• obstruct
• plug (up)
• clog

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

Recent Examples of mob

Noun

Homicide detectives took over the investigation and determined he had been murdered right around the time when mob organization was dying out in Sin City. — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

A couple of years later, in his major studio debut, Abrams worked alongside Ryan Gosling in Gangster Squad until his shoeshine boy character caught a bullet during a mob ambush near a newsstand. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Verb

Hallford Stadium glowed red as Tucker players and coaches mobbed each other. — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 5 Sep. 2026

After falling on hard times particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, malls today are in a renaissance as teens mob them once more. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026