SWARMS Synonyms: 70 Similar and Opposite Words

swarms 1 of 3

noun

plural of swarm

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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swarms

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of swarm

as in flocks

to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers meeting little resistance, the pirates swarmed the decks of the merchant ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in bursts

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

swarms

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of swarm

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

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 swarms

Noun

Under this concept, armed forces aim to coordinate multiple VICTOR drones into autonomous swarms capable of dividing surveillance, reconnaissance, and transport missions in real time. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026 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 government has a longstanding program to breed sterile male flies and drop swarms of them from planes to mate with wild females, causing the flies to die out. — Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 In the early eighteenth century, the village of Gais started attracting swarms of visitors, many from abroad, who wanted to sample Gaisschottenkur, a treatment featuring goat’s whey. — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 They can be launched in swarms, Allison Minor, a senior fellow in the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told CBS News. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 The Ukrainians are regularly launching swarms of drones now that number in the hundreds, compared with dozens earlier in the war, Mitrova said. — Spencer Kimball,deena Zaidi, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026 Protesters began showing up at the set — where swarms of extras were playing protesters — and Trejo eventually began pushing back on his lines. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 As swarms of Trump supporters waited in long security lines ahead of the speech, a chorus of top Kansas Republicans rallied the crowd. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Verb

Still, Hafley’s defense swarms the Raiders and is too much to overcome. — Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 Before the gaggle of girls swarms her apartment, there’s a sweet moment when Steve drops his daughter off early, and the two divorcees engage in some flirty banter over pizza prep. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 17 June 2026 On the opposite corner, a herd of schoolchildren swarms a local television reporter. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 June 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for swarms

Noun

Salem is a vibrant, thriving, bustling city, attracting throngs of tourists in the autumn.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Guests of the hotel have a special opportunity to visit the villa privately, away from the throngs of tourists that visit from near and far.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of throngs

Verb

In these moments, the actor bursts through his roles as the Spider does through Reilly, unleashing the Grand Guignol excess that is Nicolas Cage.

— Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Things quickly take a terrifying turn during surgery when a scorpion tail suddenly bursts through Perry’s back, attacking one of the surgeons mid-operation.

— Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Definition of bursts

Verb

The price climbs to $55 during peak travel periods, including Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, if passengers pay at least 24 hours before departure.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
As the United States climbs this escalation ladder, Washington needs to explain how additional military action will lead to a sustainable peace and a more secure regional order.

— Letters to the Editor, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of climbs

Noun

Speaking to hordes of mostly young fans at his Masterclass and later at a press conference and multiple one-on-one interviews, the indefatigable filmmaker reflected on the current state of affairs in the world.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026
The report describes aggressive tactics in which hordes of solicitors sit on the phones all day, calling people to get them to refinance.

— Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of hordes

Verb

Every time the twitchy little bug stops for a moment, Snaggletooth focuses to prepare a pounce, only to be thwarted as the fatty snack buzzes to another spot in the nest.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
Many speak Russian, but also maintain their own native languages and traditions — dishing out their best gossip in the saunas while a Lakers game buzzes in the background.

— Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of buzzes

Verb

Brookfield is targeting a massive artificial intelligence data center in the north of England, as Europe scrambles to develop infrastructure to support the rollout of AI amid high energy and land costs.

— Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026
What to do about large-scale data centers, however, scrambles home rule for the candidates.

— Liv Coleman, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of scrambles

Noun

Back as usual are crowd-pleasing events like the competitive Burger Bash, Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions and the Grand Tasting Village, which draw big crowds and big appetites.

— Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
After scaling the route’s opening gambit—the four-mile-long Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, with a two-mile, 174-foot elevation gain, the race’s highest climb—the infamous crowds that line the route started to materialize.

— Max Berlinger, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of crowds

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swarming

swarms

swart

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Style

“Swarms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swarms. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of swarms

noun

verb (1)

verb (2)

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