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
The Steelers’ defense, which held off any potential Browns comeback, kept Cleveland out of the endzone by tallying six sacks, swarming rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in his second career NFL start. The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025 In another video, security can be seen swarming the concertgoer who grabbed the 23-year-old, with several team members appearing to grab ahold of the fan in the crowd as others look on in shock. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025 Proposals that the lights were swarming insects or birds carrying glowing fungus were quickly debunked. Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025 The 1950s saw the Volkswagen Beetle spread globally, especially swarming roads in the United States during the 1960s. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025 Nordstrom is swarming with deals up to 80 percent off this Labor Day weekend. Alyssa Grabinski, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025 The secondary, headlined by senior cornerback Brandon Ford and senior defensive back Jaleal Allen, patrols the back end of a swarming defense. Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2025 The payoff is a drolly whirligig centerpiece sequence in which their small apartment is suddenly swarming with Ashley’s boyfriends. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025 In broad daylight, a group of men on motorbikes can be seen swarming and viciously beating another rider, allegedly for stealing their bike. Wbff Staff, Baltimore Sun, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swarming
Adjective
  • Many of the activists who most recently fought to keep the park support housing development, but Smith said the project will ultimately do a disservice to students and other neighborhood residents who are losing an important open space in a crowded urban environment.
    Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • His analytical discipline transforms vision into velocity and gives the company its edge in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
    Sara Smith, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Streamline applications with pre-filled forms, especially to support internal mobility where workloads are high or digital access is limited.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The ceremony, held at Chapman’s Musco Center for the Arts, drew two former university presidents, dozens of delegates from sister institutions, and a packed crowd of faculty, students, alumni and community leaders.
    Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 11 Oct. 2025
  • To say that there’s pressure involved in getting this right—the legacies at stake amid a jam-packed, competitive arms race, to say nothing of the monetary investment —is an understatement.
    Jake Emen, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But Duane’s grip on the rifle was so tight that the muzzle stayed jammed under the bear’s chin.
    Marguerite Reiss, Outdoor Life, 9 Oct. 2025
  • That witness said the driver of a gold truck going north jammed on his or her brakes as Lacy’s Charger approached, causing a female driver in a Kia Cadenza behind the gold truck to swerve into the southbound lane to avoid the truck.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ride-sharing services like Uber and taxis are abundant in Palma, but become unreliable at the farther reaches of the island.
    Emilio Parra Doiztua, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The team is exploring its use in sodium-ion batteries, an alternative to lithium-ion technology because sodium is more abundant.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Rumors have been rife for quite some time now, but finally, the company has confirmed that production has started for its muscle cruiser.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025
  • And finally… Frustration at Sheffield United is rife; immeasurable, almost.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Erika Kirk also explained why a small stuffed puppet was sitting beside Kirk’s empty microphone.
    Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The school set up care stations with counseling, candy and stuffed animals.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • After Brandon was shockingly eliminated from the season 34 competition on the latest episode of Dancing with the Stars alongside partner Lauren Jauregui, the internet was awash with questions about what the elimination meant for the pro.
    Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The mountains are awash with vibrant autumnal hues, which can be admired by driving the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway, biking the Catskill Scenic Trail, or hiking the many trails with sweeping views of the area.
    Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Swarming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swarming. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

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