swarms 1 of 3

Definition of swarmsnext
plural of swarm

swarms

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of swarm
1
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

2
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

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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
The power of drone swarms on battlefields has been witnessed in multiple wars to date. Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026 Spring marks peak termite emergence because warmer temperatures bring out swarms of reproductive termites. Ana Durrani, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026 The American military, despite its unrivaled power, has trouble swatting down swarms of cheap drones. Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026 Removing bees from your home may require some carpentry work to safely remove them and prevent future swarms from taking up residence. Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 7 Apr. 2026 In March, the company said its Bahraini data center had been damaged after Iran sent swarms of drones in the region. Kevin Collier, NBC news, 2 Apr. 2026 The annual flooding of the Nile River regularly destroyed beehives, and the generation of fresh swarms of bees was an agricultural necessity. Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026 Bee swarms are a natural process in which a large group of bees leaves an existing hive to start a new colony, according to Iowa State University. Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026 Meanwhile, Iran has wreaked havoc on military bases, tourist centers and data centers used by America’s largest tech giants with swarms of low-cost Shahed drones that cost between $20,000 and $50,000, according to public estimates. Samantha Subin, CNBC, 28 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
  • Last Saturday, in Grapevine, Texas, Pahlavi spoke to throngs of his supporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
    Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Vast plazas are missing the typical throngs of faithful and tourists.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In Raspail’s tale, hordes of impoverished and dark-​skinned brutes from India descend onto French shores by way of rafts, the first wave of an invasion of the civilized West by the brown-​skinned developing world.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
  • In the postseason, the dynamic is more like a pro league, with open locker rooms, one-on-one opportunities and hordes of reporters.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The gradual drop-off in prices is due to a declining number of bird flu cases following a major outbreak in commercial flocks and egg-laying hens last winter.
    Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Larger birds and flocks, however, can be another story.
    Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Opening weekend crowds were 80% female, while 53% were between 18 and 34 years old.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Magyar has visited scores of towns and cities, drawing huge crowds, even deep in traditional Fidesz territory.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swarms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swarms. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.

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