crowd 1 of 2

Definition of crowdnext
1
as in throng
a great number of persons or creatures massed together a huge crowd of fans was on hand to greet the returning World Series champions

Synonyms & Similar Words

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crowd

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to stuff
to fit (people or things) into a tight space crowded all the boats into the harbor before the storm struck

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to flock
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers cars crowded the roads over the long holiday weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun crowd differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of crowd are crush, horde, mob, and throng. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

Where would crush be a reasonable alternative to crowd?

The words crush and crowd are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

When might mob be a better fit than crowd?

While in some cases nearly identical to crowd, mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

How do throng and horde relate to one another, in the sense of crowd?

Both throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters
a horde of shoppers

How does the noun crowd differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of crowd are crush, horde, mob, and throng. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

Where would crush be a reasonable alternative to crowd?

The words crush and crowd are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

When might mob be a better fit than crowd?

While in some cases nearly identical to crowd, mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

How do throng and horde relate to one another, in the sense of crowd?

Both throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters
a horde of shoppers

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 crowd
Noun
Arrive early to beat crowds and summer heat, especially at outdoor monuments. Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026 And traveling in the off-season can mean fewer crowds and lower prices — a win for the group budget. Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
Agency staff crowded a meeting room on the Roybal campus at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta; others watched online from their offices. Helen Branswell, STAT, 30 Mar. 2026 Independence’s top office is among the most important races on this spring’s crowded Jackson County ballot. Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crowd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crowd
Noun
  • As the minutes passed and the throng thickened, a police officer had to repeatedly remind people not to block the crosswalk.
    Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Vast plazas are missing the typical throngs of faithful and tourists.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Meanwhile, just outside, worship continued, as faith leaders and community members took part in a Holy Thursday service of their own.
    Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Another effort will be going into local schools to make sure students understand that a simple mistake can be the start of something tragic for everyone in the mountain communities.
    Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The crocodile’s rare appearance represented a disheartening degradation but a hopeful sign of what the Niger Delta, if salvaged, can still become — an eco-diverse paradise akin to the Amazon or Costa Rica, that feeds its populace and attracts foreign visitors wanting to witness nature’s glory.
    Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
  • The seeming absoluteness of scientific thinking may predispose many medical practitioners or public health workers to assume the populace trust them, that evidential claims naturally validate interventions — no further Q&A needed.
    Cory Anderson, STAT, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • He was named the MaxPreps Colorado Player of the Year after consistently stuffing the stat sheet, affecting the game in every way while also playing dynamic defense.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
  • At least 33 bodies — including children and dismembered remains stuffed in sacks — were unearthed from a mass grave in western Kenya on Thursday, raising questions about whether the corpses were secretly moved from a hospital morgue.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • For the third year in a row, celebrities are flocking to shorter and shorter styles, which include the ever-evolving bob (see Penélope Cruz, Selena Gomez, and Gracie Abrams).
    Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The biggest names in private equity and venture investing have been flocking to the Gulf in recent years as the region’s sovereign wealth funds have become an increasingly important source of cash.
    Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • We were huddled shoulder to shoulder on the floor at my bedroom door, listening at the decent-size crack.
    Kate Crane, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Others huddle in tents pulled together from sheets of tarp along the curving coastal corniche or around Horsh Beirut, a park of pine trees on the outskirts of an area of the southern suburbs known as Dahiyeh.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 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
  • And if a bunch of independent enthusiasts can uncover this much information with public tools, this fast, imagine what a properly coordinated and resourced regulatory effort could achieve.
    Nic Puckrin, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • There's a bunch of power lines down.
    Noel Brennan, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Crowd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crowd. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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