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

For Capra, as for Dickens, a mob could be either a chorus, pleading for justice, or a milling source of dread. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 Per photos shared by DeuxMoi, the Verity actress embraced a mob wife dressing moment in an oversized cheetah print jacket. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 17 Oct. 2026

Verb

Megill retired Richie Palacios on a grounder to end it, threw his arms in the air and was mobbed by teammates near the mound while Brewers fans celebrated in the stands. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 His house is mobbed with skeletons, animatronic displays, tombstones, pumpkins and much more. — Dick Brennan, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mob

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mob

Noun

At lunchtime and in the evenings, its covered gravel patio with 13 tables draws a full crowd of parents with young kids and a few older folks, most of whom Donner has gotten to know quite well.

— Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 2026
Three people were killed and others were injured when a minivan hit a crowd of street vendors and pedestrians in North Hollywood on Tuesday evening, authorities said.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of crowd

Noun

Paraguay’s president was removed from office and detained after the country’s largest digital bank melted down, leaving half the populace without access to funds and plunging the country into a political crisis.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 8 Nov. 2026
Ultimately, both experts agreed that public-private partnerships and emerging technology like AI are countries’ best bets at enabling affordable, high-quality healthcare for its populace.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of populace

Verb

This flocked wreath lights up and is adorned with a silky velvet green ribbon at less than $20.

— Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2026
Falkman was studying at Pratt Institute and Paretti served as his guide to the art world and the bohemian crowd that flocked to the Chelsea Hotel.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of flock

Noun

For now, and despite planned protests, the Louvre remains open, and visitors can try to catch a glimpse of the Mona Lisa in the good company of other Da Vinci paintings and throngs of selfie-wielding tourists.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 9 Nov. 2026
Under cloudy, windy skies, throngs of people lined Leo’s motorcade route along Montevideo’s waterfront, with huge crowds cheering as his open-sided popemobile brought him into town for his first events.

— Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of throng

Noun

Haiti's National Police said the leader of the Boston gang known as Mathias was one of those killed in a joint operation with other law enforcement forces.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
Several drug gangs known for attacking civilians and politicians operate in the area where Almaraz was kidnapped Saturday, including the Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa cartels.

— Alfredo Peña, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of gang

Noun

The last of its kind in the country, the event is held twice a year and open to a paying public.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
The potential collision point between opposition oversight from Democrats and the Republican president’s preoccupation with the projects was evident in his last message to the American public before the election — and in his first afterward, too.

— Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of public

Noun

On Friday evening, swarms of Dolly Parton lookalikes took over the East Village for The Frankie Shop and Unemployed’s fourth annual Halloween bash.

— Simone Cook, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2026
The Southern and Northern Taurids are part of the broader Taurid Meteoroid Complex, a vast swarm of interplanetary dust, rocks, comets and asteroids thought to be related to Encke.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of swarm

Browse Nearby Words

moats

mob

mobbed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Mob.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mob. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of mob

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on mob

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

boilerplate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes