as in throngs
a great number of persons or creatures massed together
a swarm of tourists descends upon the island every summer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in climbs
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
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Recent Examples of swarms
David Szondy
march 22, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026
For their part, Iranian officials signaled that energy facilities were on the table as swarms of its drones targeted the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia, the Shah gas field southwest of Abu Dhabi and oil facilities in Fujairah.
—Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
Even baleen whales eat swarms of tiny animals known as krill.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 18 Mar. 2026
The drones are getting faster and stronger and can move in swarms.
—Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
By improving detection capabilities against drone swarms, the technology could strengthen air-defense networks and reduce vulnerabilities created by rapidly evolving drone warfare tactics.
—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
Now drone swarms attack across borders with impunity.
—Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
As Romeo, players come armed with up to eight weapons that players will use to defeat swarms of enemies in each dimensional rift.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
The unapologetically lurid tale of two families locked in an ever-complex cat’s cradle of class resentments and adulterous power plays also swarms with queen bees and jaw-droppingly muscular men that feel straight out of the Real Housewives playbook.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Launching swarms mid-air The aircraft was publicly displayed for the first time at Airshow China in Zhuhai in 2024, where Chinese broadcasters highlighted its potential military functions.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Dec. 2025
In the 13-second video, Cynthia Erivo pulls him off the pop star before security swarms him.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
The concept of drone swarms is taking on new significance as major militaries shift from viewing large numbers of autonomous land, sea, and air vehicles as a threat to treating them as a strategic asset.
—David Szondy
march 22, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026
For their part, Iranian officials signaled that energy facilities were on the table as swarms of its drones targeted the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia, the Shah gas field southwest of Abu Dhabi and oil facilities in Fujairah.
—Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
Even baleen whales eat swarms of tiny animals known as krill.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 18 Mar. 2026
The drones are getting faster and stronger and can move in swarms.
—Lesley Stahl, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
By improving detection capabilities against drone swarms, the technology could strengthen air-defense networks and reduce vulnerabilities created by rapidly evolving drone warfare tactics.
—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
Now drone swarms attack across borders with impunity.
—Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
As Romeo, players come armed with up to eight weapons that players will use to defeat swarms of enemies in each dimensional rift.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Washington swarms with health specialists.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
The unapologetically lurid tale of two families locked in an ever-complex cat’s cradle of class resentments and adulterous power plays also swarms with queen bees and jaw-droppingly muscular men that feel straight out of the Real Housewives playbook.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
Launching swarms mid-air The aircraft was publicly displayed for the first time at Airshow China in Zhuhai in 2024, where Chinese broadcasters highlighted its potential military functions.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Dec. 2025
In the 13-second video, Cynthia Erivo pulls him off the pop star before security swarms him.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swarms
Noun
-
Two small tents shaded those who got there earliest, leaving throngs of fans — the rest of us — to bake in the sun as security locked our phones in pouches.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The throngs gathered for what almost happened and what actually did take place.—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Aside from royally pissing off hordes of fans (with an average attendance of 25,048 per game, MLB turnstile spins in ’95 were down 20% compared to the league’s pre-strike mark of 31,240), the strike also coincided with a series of media shakeups.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
18 Mar. 2026
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Some are good for taking out enemy hordes, while others focus on lower shields to do more damage.—
Gieson Cacho,
Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Studt recommends heading over to one of Palm Beach County’s larger nature preserves, such as Cypress Creek Natural Area in Jupiter or Loxahatchee Slough in Palm Beach Gardens, to catch a glimpse of the spirited flocks.—
Lois K. Solomon,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Cliff swallows are highly social and travel in large flocks.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As spring break travel winds down, airports across the country are still dealing with heavy crowds and long security lines, amid the partial government shutdown.—
Marissa Armas,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Advantaged by a much higher rate of sellout crowds than the norm on the West Coast, San Diego State’s men’s basketball program nonetheless is facing stiff economic challenges, as does the school’s football program and, above all, the athletic department as a whole.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swarms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swarms. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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