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

Relevance
2
3

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

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
Subway riders will see bigger crowds, and roads across Long Island will be busier. Elijah Westbrook, CBS News, 18 May 2026 Footage of police pepper-spraying crowds. Shane O’Neill, Washington Post, 18 May 2026
Verb
Consumers crowded en masse for an opportunity to gain status, scarcity, access, resale, theatre, and the chance to get physically close to a luxury code that usually sits well out of reach. Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 Fans lined the fairways and crowded the greens at Aronimink to watch the fourth and final round of the PGA Championship. Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for crowd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crowd
Noun
  • Several senators were still in the building after holding a session when the gunshots were heard by a throng of journalists, including two from the Associated Press.
    Joeal Calupitan, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • Alex Tuch stood inside a conference room at the Four Seasons in Montreal with a throng of reporters around him and pointed the finger directly at himself.
    Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • Presidents have often recognized and honored the Jewish community within the broader story of America.
    Ari Berman, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026
  • Flanked by several clergy members of various denominations, Dolan, 76, thanked his former colleagues, as well as civic and community officials, before praising Jesus Christ for his lengthy career in the church.
    Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • People Acting Like Others When the TV series Star Trek initially gained popularity, a segment of the populace admired the tenor and nature of the Spock character.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
  • Assayas portrays the Russian populace as merely manipulated, as if voters were blank slates for effective propaganda rather than people with moral compasses, capacities for judgment and humanity, ideas and opinions that demagogues recognize and stoke.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • What sets a muffuletta, that iconic sandwich from New Orleans, apart from other sandwiches similarly stuffed with assorted deli meats is the olive salad that’s slathered across the bread.
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 May 2026
  • Throughout, visiting tourist Madeleine (Kristen Stewart) stuffs her face with every kind of meat, vegetable and carb while her father Phil (Woody Harrelson) is the one whose stomach miraculously swells.
    Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • The summer-like heat this week will no doubt have people flocking to the local beaches.
    Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 18 May 2026
  • Trump blasted Cassidy as voters went to polls Trump called out Cassidy again as Pelican State voters were flocking to the polls, further underscoring his commitment to dislodging GOP dissenters.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • Former University of Kansas one-and-done combo guard Darryn Peterson huddled with scouts and front-office executives representing 10 pro basketball teams on Wednesday morning at the NBA Combine in Chicago.
    Gary Bedore May 13, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
  • On the Mall, the wide avenue leading to the palace, a sudden downpour and a bitter wind buffeted a scant line of crowds, huddled under umbrellas against the barriers lining the iconic red roadway.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Noun
  • Numerous black dots, later identified as a swarm of bees, were spotted on the White House near the press corps’ Pebble Beach media area on the North Lawn.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
  • Light shapes living swarms Unlike synthetic microrobots that often rely on magnets or sound waves, the new system uses the algae’s natural light-sensitive behavior.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • Be sure to book a room on a high floor facing the Ponte Estaiada Octavio Frias de Oliveira Bridge, which is the most interesting of the bunch here.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
  • While Rickie Fowler and Ludvig Åberg chatted with their caddies, DeChambeau took a bunch of practice swings and chomped on a piece of beef jerky with more aggression than even chewy meat merits.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crowd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crowd. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on crowd

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster