herds 1 of 2

Definition of herdsnext
plural of herd

herds

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of herd
as in drives
to urge, push, or force onward the guards briskly herded us through the museum in order to prevent overcrowding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 herds
Noun
The alpine pastureland is home to herds of goats and cows and small families of shepherds who have worked the land for lifetimes. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 31 Jan. 2026 Success stories include the reintroduction of eastern black rhino and the return of large elephant and buffalo herds. Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2026 And unlike elegant formations of soaring birds or massive herds of trekking antelope, these creatures make their annual journey via vast blue highways of the Pacific. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026 The group and its rancher members reason that by eating buffalo meat, consumers are helping maintain herds on North American grasslands while supporting regenerative agriculture. The Know, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026 The financial benefits of holding permits to graze herds on public lands extend beyond cattle sales. Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 12 Jan. 2026 Now the agency can establish a management plan for these wayward herds — one that hunters could potentially play a role in going forward. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 8 Jan. 2026 Imagine herds of guanacos, native llama-like creatures, grazing below dramatic peaks; flocks of flamingos swimming across lagoons; and not another traveler in sight. Jeaninne Sanz, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2025 The finding sheds light on how the plague likely spread through close contact between people, livestock and wild animals as Bronze Age societies began keeping larger herds and traveling farther with horses. Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 2025
Verb
However, one quick look at what companies like Boston Dynamics has achieved with robots like the rather creepy dog-like ‘Spot,’ who herds sheep in New Zealand, and the possibilities seem endless. Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herds
Noun
  • In fact, some flocks overwinter as far north as Canada.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
  • For a real birdwatching activity, fill a seed bag with thistle and watch flocks of them dart around the feeder and feast with fervor.
    Kier Holmes, Martha Stewart, 18 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Auterion currently operates swarms of up to 22 drones, with that number increasing rapidly.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
  • There would be countries that decide that AI bot swarms are their best form of offense and defense.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Modular software drives robots The platform emphasizes that software can evolve independently of hardware, enabling robots to learn new tasks and improve over time.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Patrick drives his dagger into Huw’s chest just as the cops show.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • More than twenty‑five thousand people crowded into Shibe Park, including throngs of young people who made the gathering feel more like a festival than a political convention.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Tuesday marks 40 years since throngs of Chicagoans braved subzero wind chills to welcome home the Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Carden-Lovell recommends splurging on time off, taking advantage of shoulder season's lower prices, thinner crowds and cooler weather (outside spring break periods, of course).
    Natalie B. Compton The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 1 Feb. 2026
  • According to exit polls, 60% of inaugural crowds were male and 85% were between 18 and 34 years old.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Each booth offered a brief refuge from the hordes moving steadily through the aisles.
    Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Only hordes of irate New York sports fans could have brokered that détente so quickly.
    Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • European publics are less diplomatic.
    Ivan Krastev, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
  • National and international publics relate directly to these leaders, who set the tone for international relations with their actions, their statements, and their preferences.
    MICHAEL KIMMAGE, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Instead of listening to reason, mobs of angry senior citizens around the country started to form into groups demanding justice.
    Tom Margenau, Dallas Morning News, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Online mobs are just a click away, stirring the pot on X and Substack, even in the comments on breaking news.
    Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Herds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herds. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.

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