Synonyms of throng

throng 1 of 2

noun

ˈthrȯŋ 

as in crowd

a great number of persons or creatures massed together

grabbed a megaphone and addressed the vast throng

Synonyms & Similar Words

• crowd
• swarm
• flock
• horde
• multitude
• mob
• legion
• army
• mass
• masses
• herd
• press
• host
• drove
• rout
• crush
• bike
• millions
• rabble
• cram
• scrum
• gaggle
• pile
• heap
• riffraff
• mountain
• rabblement
• jam
• logjam

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

• flock
• mob
• crowd
• invade
• swarm
• beset
• overrun
• dam
• infest
• plug (up)
• obstruct
• jam
• clog

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

Recent Examples of throng

Noun

The cows made their way to the altar — with the handlers helping to guide them with hay — through throngs of people and a few mascots sitting in seats and lined up on the streets, who stopped by just to see the unique occasion. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026

Officers also described the throng of parents searching for children and spouses who worked at the school, including a woman who said her husband had grabbed their child and hidden near an ice machine in the basement of the church. — ABC News, 27 Aug. 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