swarming 1 of 3

swarming

2 of 3

verb (1)

present participle of swarm
1
as in flocking
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers meeting little resistance, the pirates swarmed the decks of the merchant ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in bursting
to be copiously supplied at this time of year that Mexican resort swarms with college students on spring break

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

swarming

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of swarm
as in climbing
to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling one of the physical challenges had competitors swarming over a pile of logs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 swarming
Verb
Nothing is worse than swarming gnats and flies. Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 27 June 2026 Groups of amateur sleuths also cropped up in the hollows of tragedy to wrestle with the case and analyze rumors swarming the Horman family in online forums, echoing a familiar pattern of behavior on the internet in the face of long-unsolved criminal cases. Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 23 June 2026 The blistering noon heat is close to a hundred degrees, but the boys swarming the soccer arena seem to move with extra pace in their step. Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2026 Chicago, town of magical beauty, is swarming with prestidigitators. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2026 The video showed taunting fans swarming the hotel, a few blocks south of Madison Square Garden. CBS News, 11 June 2026 The first bulletins reported police and emergency vehicles swarming around a nightclub in Orlando in the predawn hours of June 12, 2016. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 June 2026 The HiveSpy project is a low‑cost, frame‑level IoT monitoring system that helps beekeepers automate labor‑intensive tasks and prevent hive swarming by tracking production yield in real time. Ashley Moran, IEEE Spectrum, 10 June 2026 This may be the denouement of all of Nilsson’s multitudinous and swarming work. Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swarming
Adjective
  • The Heat will be looking for spacers to put around Antetokounmpo, who might already be dealing with crowded driving lanes because Bam Adebayo is his new frontcourt partner.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 26 June 2026
  • The nominees for the 2026 ESPYs are out, with New York Knicks hero Jalen Brunson leading a crowded lineup of sports stars for this year’s installment of the award show.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • The decision is a rare move from The Household Division, which oversees the ceremonial duties of the British Army and comes during one of the busiest seasons for British tourism – with many spectators flocking to royal residences to witness the historic military handover.
    Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • When their team wins, Ramírez's neighbors and large swaths of Mexico City erupt, with tens of thousands of people flooding the streets and flocking to Mexico City's central monument, the Angel de la Independencia.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Best Amazon Prime Day Home Deals Amazon’s home department is bursting with steep Prime Day deals today.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
  • Always turn off the electricity and water supply line and remove nearby light fixtures when dealing with bursting ceiling pipes to avoid accidental electrocution.
    Helen Andriatsitohaina, The Spruce, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • With salon gel manicures and pedicures climbing past $40 a visit, social media tutorials demystifying nail care and growing concern about gel ingredients, more people are trading the salon chair for a setup on the kitchen table.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026
  • Sonic made the biggest jump of any brand in the survey, climbing from 73 to 77 after adding more affordable menu items.
    Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Wall Street Journal featured Reese alongside WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson on its magazine cover, even after Caitlin Clark broke numerous records, filled arenas, and set new marks for WNBA broadcasts.
    Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
  • The new system allows citations to be transmitted electronically and enter the court records system pre-filled.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Resident cites road, school crowding concerns Resident Kacey Pope urged the board to recommend denying the rezonings, and no residents spoke in favor of the projects.
    Joe Marusak June 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2026
  • In South Africa, George took his son to games and young Tim saw how strangers reacted to seeing his father, crowding around him, asking for photos.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • London draws more than 30 million visitors annually, and along with its buzzing energy and endless opportunities comes one of the world’s most exciting food scenes.
    Carinne Geil Botta, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • New York City is still buzzing after a historic NBA Finals in which the Knicks won their first championship in 53 years.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • In Texas, an 18-wheeler dropped $800,000 in dimes onto a highway in April 2025, sending crews scrambling as coins scattered across the roadway.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • In 2024, a major ransomware attack targeting Fulton County’s computer systems left the county without working phones and scrambling to continue services.
    Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 21 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swarming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swarming. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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