mob 1 of 2

Definition of mobnext

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

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
The cops were there in response to 911 calls about a disorderly mob of adult idiots behaving like unruly 7-year-olds. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026 Colombia’s storied Medellin cartel was another mob that withered after Pablo Escobar met his demise in 1993. Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
In the first half of the Super Bowl on Sunday, Seattle’s defense mobbed Maye, the Patriots’ young quarterback, often sending blitzes at him. Tim Rohan, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026 The Bulldogs drew up a play for Jake Heidbreder, who calmly drained an open 18-footer on the left baseline at the buzzer and was mobbed by students spilling out of the Save Mart Center stands. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mob
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mob
Noun
  • The game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 41,628 that was decidedly pro-Mexico.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
  • For outdoor adventures, the Ulistac Natural Area and Guadalupe River Trail offer opportunities for walks, birdwatching, and biking that provide welcome breaks from stadium crowds.
    Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 9 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
  • The seeming absoluteness of scientific thinking may predispose many medical practitioners or public health workers to assume the populace trust them, that evidential claims naturally validate interventions — no further Q&A needed.
    Cory Anderson, STAT, 6 Mar. 2026
  • That combination makes for a happy society and ensures a populace that drives a productive economy for years to come.
    Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This natural sculpting resulted in stunning sandstone formations that amaze visitors who flock to the site, which is free and open to the public year-round.
    Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026
  • History of Polo in Wellington Wellington has been a polo capital since the rich and rarified began flocking to the Palm Beaches in the 1920s.
    Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Prosecutors, police and FBI officials say Balat and Kayumi drove from Pennsylvania to New York City and joined a throng of counterprotesters at the rally, whose organizer, far-right activist Jake Lang, is a critic of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat and the first Muslim to hold the office.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The wagon proceeded slowly down Mott Street as throngs of Chinese and white passersby stopped to watch.
    Charlotte Brooks, Big Think, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • There were 290 acts of aggression against journalists in Ecuador last year, including four murders, attributed to criminal gangs.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
  • In a neighborhood divided by gang lines and cultural currents, Wiley’s mind wandered beyond the block.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Trump endorsed Fuller months after Greene, once his top ally, resigned following a public falling out with the president.
    Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The Pentagon has long treated the public disclosure of casualty figures, including troops wounded in combat, as a core piece of its accountability to both the American public and the families of those who serve -- a practice which dates back to World War II.
    Steven Beynon, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • By processing large volumes of data quickly, AI can help determine which drones represent actual threats and which might be acting as decoys within a swarm.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
  • The mounting toll has intensified concerns over how to counter drone swarms without depleting interceptor stockpiles that cost millions of dollars each to replace.
    Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 14 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mob.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mob. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

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