throng 1 of 2

Definition of throngnext

throng

2 of 2

verb

as in to flock
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers fans thronged the field to celebrate the win

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun throng differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of throng are crowd, crush, horde, and mob. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters
a horde of shoppers

When might crowd be a better fit than throng?

While in some cases nearly identical to throng, crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

When can crush be used instead of throng?

The synonyms crush and throng are sometimes interchangeable, but crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

Where would mob be a reasonable alternative to throng?

The words mob and throng are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

How does the noun throng differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of throng are crowd, crush, horde, and mob. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters
a horde of shoppers

When might crowd be a better fit than throng?

While in some cases nearly identical to throng, crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

When can crush be used instead of throng?

The synonyms crush and throng are sometimes interchangeable, but crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

Where would mob be a reasonable alternative to throng?

The words mob and throng are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

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 throng
Noun
Marcos’s commanders, confronted with throngs of nuns, priests and ordinary civilians pleading, weeping and kneeling in prayer, refused orders to open fire and clear the streets, and Marcos subsequently fled to exile in Hawaii. Keith B. Richburg, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2026 Editor Jeremy Rellosa spoke to season-ticket holders and superfans about buying cheap tickets that aren’t in the nosebleeds, the best time to get a hot dog, and the secret escalator for avoiding the throngs. Jeremy Rellosa, Curbed, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
Minneapolis cineplexes, at least, will be thronged as Hotdish Brigade moms seek relief from clouds of pepper spray. Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026 Thousands of people thronged the snowy streets of the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk on Saturday to have their say on a transatlantic crisis that has shaken the 76-year-old NATO alliance. David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for throng
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throng
Noun
  • The game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 41,628 that was decidedly pro-Mexico.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
  • For outdoor adventures, the Ulistac Natural Area and Guadalupe River Trail offer opportunities for walks, birdwatching, and biking that provide welcome breaks from stadium crowds.
    Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • This natural sculpting resulted in stunning sandstone formations that amaze visitors who flock to the site, which is free and open to the public year-round.
    Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026
  • History of Polo in Wellington Wellington has been a polo capital since the rich and rarified began flocking to the Palm Beaches in the 1920s.
    Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In the cat-and-mouse game of drone warfare, the Ukrainians have also built up a layered defense against the Shahed and its variants – and claim to have seen significant success in countering Russian drone swarms.
    Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Those warheads typically carry 30 kg to 50 kg of explosives and can pack a punch, particularly when used in large swarms, with advanced versions capable of a range of up to 1,200 miles.
    Dylan Butts, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The regular crowd shots of the waiting room too often reduce the afflicted into a zombie-like horde bent on making life more difficult for our beloved medical staff.
    Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Just seems like the Mariners’ horde of young talent leaves them far better positioned to keep their crown a little while.
    Kevin Sherrington Mar. 6, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Throng.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throng. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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