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throng

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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
If Trump shows, the demonstrations could be similar to the bicentennial celebration in 1975, when a throng of antiwar protestors and more than 100,000 others showed up – some to boo President Gerald Ford. Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 15 Apr. 2025 The lavish ceremony drew more than 4,000 guests and onlookers, and the venue experienced so much overcrowding that the wedding gift table was inadvertently pushed into the hotel’s pond by the swarming throng. Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
Crowds flock to Old Trafford ahead of the Premier League game against Arsenal last weekend (Michael Regan/Getty Images) On stadium tours, still thronged daily, the old tunnel is pointed out as the last remaining piece of the 1910 ground. Michael Walker, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025 Sotheby’s was heaving before the 7 p.m. kick-off, with packed seats and an excited crowd thronged at the back of the salesroom. George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for throng
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throng
Noun
  • Come for the seafood and stay for the weekend live music and waterfront views that draw a loyal, unpretentious crowd.
    Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 15 May 2025
  • Daniel: Of course, this year, the passing of Pope Francis has brought additional crowds of pilgrims and mourners.
    Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • Cardinals flock to Rome from all over the world to elect the next leader of the Catholic church, and this time around, the process will begin on Wednesday, May 7.
    Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 7 May 2025
  • Audiences around the world recently flocked to theaters to see the feature again, and a new release of the album has turned it into a commercial success once more — not just a minor one, but a true bestseller.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Noun
  • Standardized, recoverable platforms simplify coordination since the swarm could be comprised of one drone type, with different drones carrying different payloads.
    Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
  • In the 1840s, Maryland physician Gideon Smith took a shine to cicada tracking and began crowd-sourcing sightings, writing to newspapers and asking locals to contact him with reports of the emergence of new cicada swarms.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • Romance has always been a popular genre, but is often stigmatized for the same reason hordes of people seek it out: its set rules.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2025
  • Untold hordes more have traditionally surrounded the court while standing.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 12 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Throng.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throng. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

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