MOB Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

mob 1 of 2

noun

ˈmäb

Definition of mob

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

Relevance

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

as in populace

the body of the community as contrasted with the elite political speeches designed to appeal to the mob

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

McGee was an antagonist in Season 5 of Top Boy, a high-ranking member of the Irish mob who distributed drugs in London for his uncle, Tadgh McGee. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026 In the original show, Jonny is a powerful member of the Irish mob in London, serving as a soldier and drug distributor for his uncle, Tadgh McGee (Brian Gleeson). — Joe Otterson, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers is mobbed by teammates after a walk-off double that scored the game winning run against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on August 04, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. — CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 By Beabadoobee’s set time, the area was already mobbed with a full crowd of people as far as the eye could see. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mob

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mob

Noun

Meanwhile, this is the freshest old man Aaron Rodgers will be all season, and the home crowd will be a factor in native son Mike McCarthy’s debut.

— Vic Tafur, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Each one of these items, including a versatile milk frother, quality coffee bean grinder and buzzy candy, can be used for making a cup of coffee in the morning or entertaining a crowd ready to get caffeinated.

— Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of crowd

Noun

China also hopes to encourage more citizens to exercise, thereby making an aging populace more active and reducing strain on the health system.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
This is where the irrationality of antisemitic conspiracy gains no purchase among a reasoning and pragmatic populace; where government is led by people who grasp, and embrace, the seriousness of their responsibilities.

— Rory Lancman, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of populace

Verb

On Monday, scores of Gilda’s devotees flocked to pay homage to her at the rusted wreckage of the tour bus, now preserved as a memorial off the national highway that skirts Argentina’s muddy Paranacito River.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Jihadis are not flocking to battle Israel or the United States, and the former Syrian jihadis sitting in Damascus seem to prefer attracting foreign investment to fighting infidel powers.

— Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of flock

Noun

Over the past few days, the people at the front of the lines have gradually moved closer and closer to the courtroom, to the point where the doors can barely open without bumping into a throng of people.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
My waxer told me of a client who got her foot stuck among a moving throng—her leg went snap.

— Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of throng

Noun

McFarlane, Jonathan Bowlan, Orion Kerkering and the gang could then take on lesser roles.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Bakewell’s donations weren’t the only ones to pose issues for Brotherhood Crusade, which provides an array of services aimed at keeping kids from joining gangs.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of gang

Noun

It’s been just a few years since ChatGPT’s release to public in late 2022, democratizing access to chatbots with the ability to answer increasingly personal questions using language from the whole of the internet.

— Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026
When a self-serving gatekeeper in that position helps divide inventory between what the broad public can see and what only market insiders can see, the result is a less transparent and competitive market.

— Tomas J. Philipson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of public

Noun

With only two publicly demonstrated ready-to-fire missiles, a vehicle like this would be poorly suited to independently handle a large drone swarm.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
Also late last week, evidence emerged that a different swarm of OpenAI’s AI agents had taken over a German wiki page and that OpenAI had failed to disclose the incident.

— Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of swarm

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moats

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mobbed

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Style

“Mob.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mob. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of mob

noun

verb

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