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
Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
The system uses several 50 kW industrial laser units to create a single powerful beam that kills drone swarms, cruise missiles, and fast-moving threats from a long distance.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 26 Dec. 2025
Southern California has provided some recent examples of swarms that ultimately fizzled out.
—Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, 22 Dec. 2025
In June, Operation Spiderweb saw Ukraine unleash swarms of drones at several Russian airfields, destroying at least 10 planes and damaging dozens of others.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
Most often, quake swarms are caused by fluids — typically water — interacting with fault lines, the federal agency said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 Dec. 2025
The East Bay community has experienced seismic activity over the past month, with scientists saying the region has had a history of earthquake swarms dating back decades.
—Brandon Downs, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Twenty-two earthquakes were recorded in the Kamchatka region within a single day in early November 2025, demonstrating the potential for earthquake swarms in highly active zones.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Mueller says that's where the robots come in – swarms of them.
—Kira Wakeam, NPR, 16 Dec. 2024
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 236-foot former drug-runner ship Hilma Hooker offers one of the most impressive wreck dives in the region, though the vertical walls at The Cliff, vibrant reefs at Sweet Dreams, and swarms of sealife at Salt Pier are just as unforgettable.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2026
The system uses several 50 kW industrial laser units to create a single powerful beam that kills drone swarms, cruise missiles, and fast-moving threats from a long distance.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 26 Dec. 2025
Southern California has provided some recent examples of swarms that ultimately fizzled out.
—Los Angeles Times, Boston Herald, 22 Dec. 2025
In June, Operation Spiderweb saw Ukraine unleash swarms of drones at several Russian airfields, destroying at least 10 planes and damaging dozens of others.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
Most often, quake swarms are caused by fluids — typically water — interacting with fault lines, the federal agency said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 Dec. 2025
The East Bay community has experienced seismic activity over the past month, with scientists saying the region has had a history of earthquake swarms dating back decades.
—Brandon Downs, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
Twenty-two earthquakes were recorded in the Kamchatka region within a single day in early November 2025, demonstrating the potential for earthquake swarms in highly active zones.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Mueller says that's where the robots come in – swarms of them.
—Kira Wakeam, NPR, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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
-
Fans posted footage on social media showing throngs of fans gathering overnight for a chance to see Williams.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Jan. 2026
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Ultimately, the popular Lake Eola Farmer’s Market could relocate to a portion of the street to help bring throngs of people, which would also benefit businesses there as city leaders have tried for years to bolster retail offerings.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Only hordes of irate New York sports fans could have brokered that détente so quickly.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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Where Game of Thrones the HBO series was a fantasy juggernaut with sweeping shots of warrior hordes and big twists, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is told from a single viewpoint as Sir Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg wander through Westeros while the Targaryen dynasty rules the Iron Throne.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For a real birdwatching activity, fill a seed bag with thistle and watch flocks of them dart around the feeder and feast with fervor.—
Kier Holmes,
Martha Stewart,
18 Jan. 2026
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Most of the animals have not died from the flu; rather, they are housed near infected flocks and have been killed preemptively, in accordance with federal policy.—
Ellen P. Carlin,
STAT,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For now, Telluride is open, the snow is skiing well, and crowds are thin.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Noise and crowds were replaced by the sounds of lapping waves and seagull cries.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swarms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swarms. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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