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

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
Egyptian fans in the 300 level of the stadium were outnumbered but felt brave enough to taunt the throngs of Argentines behind them. Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 July 2026 Iranian state media showed throngs of people gathered at Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla, a large prayer complex in Tehran, visiting the family's caskets. Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR, 6 July 2026
Verb
No matter the weather, no matter the season, for over four decades, folks in Nashville have thronged to The Picnic Cafe. Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 27 June 2026 The visual accompaniment to the president’s promise of national enjoyment showed two multistory stone arcades running down the length of the Mall—very classical, very retvrn—thronged with crowds. Christopher Hooks, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for throng
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throng
Noun
  • Tuesday’s game had a crowd at Sundance Square of a few hundred, with a strong mix between France and Spain fans.
    Cal Phillips Updated July 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • The picture of Cardinals cool, Walker chased down Kyle Schwarber, shut up a rambunctious Philly crowd and introduced himself to a much wider baseball world.
    Dan Gelston, AJC.com, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • As Argentina fans flock to Atlanta ahead of the FIFA World Cup semifinal, Underground Atlanta is once again turning into Underground Argentina.
    Amna Subhan, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
  • The scenes that would soon unfold were unclear as Spieth picked up his tee and started walking, all while a hundred or so fans in rain jackets flocked toward a large hill.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • Tehran has leaned on this asymmetric approach for decades, betting that a swarm of small, hard-to-detect boats can offset its lack of larger, more advanced submarines.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 July 2026
  • Less than two months later a swarm of earthquakes ripped along the ridge.
    Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • The Trojans unquestioningly bring the horse, apparently a religious offering, within their city walls, only for a handful of Greek troops hidden inside, led by Odysseus, to open the gates, letting in a horde of warriors who lay waste to Troy.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
  • In videos obtained by Reuters, hordes of people can be seen scattering as the bulls approached them from behind.
    Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 11 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Throng.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throng. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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