Thesaurus results for THRONG

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

throng 1 of 2

noun

ˈthrȯŋ

Definition of throng

as in crowd

a great number of persons or creatures massed together grabbed a megaphone and addressed the vast throng

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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

Huddled behind the glass is a throng of customers, watching me from the inside. — Margrét Ann Thors, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026 That was illustrated by the massive media throng surrounding Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, just one table away from where Whittingham spoke to a slightly smaller crowd. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Verb

Khomeini's funeral saw chaotic scenes as millions thronged his mourning ceremony and trip to the cemetery. — Nasser Karimi, Arkansas Online, 5 July 2026 Khomeini’s funeral saw chaotic scenes as millions thronged his mourning ceremony and trip to the cemetery. — Nasser Karimi, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for throng

Recent Examples of Synonyms for throng

Noun

Hvar banned its circuit of thumping DJ parties in 2024 in an effort to rebrand itself, but August’s high tourist season in Hvar Town still draws heavy crowds.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026
So too the buzz around the event last year and this, with first-round matches in 2025 attracting large and engrossed crowds.

— James Hansen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of crowd

Verb

As the number of new small businesses in the country continues to grow, and more people flock to digital banks, innovative fintechs like Contabilizei have an opportunity to become a key part of that domestic economic ecosystem.

— Charlotte Hu, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
Young people continue to flock to New York for its vast job market and opportunities, but affording a place to live is increasingly a challenge.

— Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of flock

Noun

The growth of agentic AI and the rise of cyber hacks orchestrated by agents are forcing companies to invest in more tools to manage swarms of new identities.

— Samantha Subin, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
This phrase is a complicated way of simply acknowledging the fact that Pluto sits within the Kuiper Belt, a vast swarm of bodies that go around the sun in similar orbits beyond Neptune.

— Mike Brown, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of swarm

Noun

Chino Hills State Park is almost never crowded, except during a spring super bloom, when the hillsides erupt in California poppies and hordes of would-be influencers arrive to take photos for Instagram.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Or what about storming the field, the tradition that follows a momentous win, when order dissolves and players brace themselves for a horde of fans pouring out of the stands.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of horde

Browse Nearby Words

thrones

throng

thronged

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Throng.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throng. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of throng

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

kith

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes