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
Trying to make my way through the throng of movie stars, filmmakers and other luminaries was almost like an Olympic event. Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026 Prosecutors, police and FBI officials say Balat and Kayumi drove from Pennsylvania to New York City and joined a throng of counterprotesters at the rally, whose organizer, far-right activist Jake Lang, is a critic of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat and the first Muslim to hold the office. Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
Gout, wary of the doctors who throng in wealthy homes, settles instead on a poor man’s toe, hoping for peace. Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026 Everything around him pounding in its pulse, the song of the world thronging in all its discord. Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for throng
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throng
Noun
  • Folk music à la Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen plays on repeat, creating a chill vibe for a crowd of regulars (many of who come twice a day).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
  • For one, Father Matijevic said Pope Leo, the first American pope, and a Chicago native, is drawing crowds.
    Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Some have already spotted the flowers in Central Park as crowds flocked to enjoy the recent unseasonably warm weather.
    Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Recently, social media users began flocking online to share their own recipes.
    Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In effect, this would see Japan sending swarms of cheap drones first during a strike.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 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
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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Throng.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throng. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.

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