mob 1 of 2

noun

ˈmäb How to pronounce mob (audio)
Definition of mobnext
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

Relevance
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
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

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
With a firehouse of insults flowing from Washington, the value of dignity rises with people of goodwill, while attracting the disdain of a diminishing mob. —Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026 In the closing moments of the season 4 finale, Mickey is shot at by members of the Armenian mob. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
Players mobbed senior Kara Dunn. —Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026 Trubin celebrated as he was mobbed by his teammates. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mob
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mob
  1. crowd
  2. Mafia
  3. populace
  4. flock
  5. throng
  6. gang
  7. public
  8. swarm
Noun
  • At one point, a song disparaging Noem and serving as an anti-ICE anthem that’s been widely circulated on social media could be heard coming from a crowd gathered outside the stadium.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The box defrosted after the game in front of a crowd that gathered on all sides in the final minutes of the countdown.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of crowd
Noun
  • The series follows the Black Mafia Family in Detroit and is based on a true story.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • On the surface, the crime drama follows the rise and fall of the Black Mafia Family — one of the most influential crime families in the country.
    — Kayla Grant, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Definition of Mafia
Noun
  • Neither of the first two games was overly competitive, although the local populace had no problem with the result of the first one.
    — Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The reigning monarch, president or dictator then unleashes the national army/armed forces upon the populace/rioters in an attempt to quell the unrest.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Definition of populace
Verb
  • Longtime supporters have jumped ship, viewing the LDP as too old-fashioned and center-leaning, and instead flocked to new right-wing parties.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Singaporeans and international travelers also flock here to hang out on the beaches, zip line at Mega Adventure Park, shop at the massive luxury galleria, and more.
    — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of flock
Noun
  • Technical director Simao Sabrosa then joined him, and eventually, the rest of the throng were allowed in and placed on the bleachers next to the training pitch.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
  • More than twenty‑five thousand people crowded into Shibe Park, including throngs of young people who made the gathering feel more like a festival than a political convention.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
Definition of throng
Noun
  • As armed gangs now control up to 90% of metropolitan Port-au-Prince and parts of the Artibonite region -- areas that together represent roughly 60% of the electorate -- Washington has emphasized the need for stability and a swift path to elections rather than a prolonged transition.
    — JACQUELINE CHARLES MIAMI HERALD, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
  • As armed gangs now control up to 90% of metropolitan Port-au-Prince and parts of the Artibonite region — areas that together represent roughly 60% of the electorate — Washington has emphasized the need for stability and a swift path to elections rather than a prolonged transition.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of gang
Noun
  • Van Der Beek was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023 and made his diagnosis public the following year.
    — Michaela Zee, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
  • But that came potentially at the expense of appealing to an American public that really does want answers.
    — CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of public
Noun
  • Bodies were found throughout the building, some stacked on top of one another, with swarms of bugs and decomposition fluid covering the floors, investigators said.
    — Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
  • In September, a swarm of Russian drones flew into Poland's airspace, prompting NATO aircraft to scramble to intercept them and shoot down some of the devices.
    — DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of swarm

Browse Nearby Words

moats
mob
mobbed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mob.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mob. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mob

Nglish: Translation of mob for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mob

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