variants
or phalanges
as in groups
formal
a large collection of people, animals, or things often placed close together
A solid phalanx of armed guards stood in front of the castle. She had to go through a phalanx of television cameras.
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Recent Examples of phalanxes
Limbs are quickly assembled from shoulders and hips down to the phalanges.
—
Jeff Wilson, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Jennifer Lawrence, who recently accessorized her black-and-white Lii dress with a slew of silver rings across her phalanges.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2025
In earlier times, ungulate toe-bones (phalanges) were commonly used across various cultures to make ornaments, game pieces, handles, and figurines.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
The further out one is known as the interphalangeal joint because your toe has two bones, the distal and the proximal phalanges.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Jeff Wilson, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Jennifer Lawrence, who recently accessorized her black-and-white Lii dress with a slew of silver rings across her phalanges.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2025
In earlier times, ungulate toe-bones (phalanges) were commonly used across various cultures to make ornaments, game pieces, handles, and figurines.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
The further out one is known as the interphalangeal joint because your toe has two bones, the distal and the proximal phalanges.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phalanxes
Noun
-
Many are surfers and on WhatsApp groups that have the latest intel on which beach has the best waves that day, so do ask them for advice.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
Fuel and fertilizer needed for the rice crop are just the latest necessities to become unaffordable in Rakhine state, which has been devastated by intense fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA), one of the many rebel groups in the country.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The Rays were also at the forefront of other innovations and/or adjustments, such as defensive shifts, lineup platoons, matchup bullpens, star-quality super-utility players and putting a numbers nerd (technically a process and analytics coach) in the dugout.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Outfield requires far more starting spots, and most of those available later in drafts are locked in platoons.—
Dalton Del Don,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Their brigades are like one out of six that work.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
In Cairo, a famously nocturnal city, shops and restaurants are now forced to close at 9 pm, with police brigades sweeping through the broad downtown avenues to urge everyone to go home.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
To prevent mealybug infestations, allow airflow between plant groupings and keep infected plants away from healthy ones.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
14 May 2026
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
After that comes the final stop at Current Landing featuring the final three bands.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
19 May 2026
-
Computer models got better at incorporating the observations gathered by aircraft, showing air movements and rain bands in greater detail.—
Brian Tang,
The Conversation,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
When Hurricane Milton swamped the region in which Hunters Point is situated in October 2024, batteries were able to send electricity to lights, refrigerators and other essentials.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
After moving the robot to a window, flight crews then worried about the batteries inside.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
This fast-growing shrub got its name from the shape of its colorful flowers, which grow as dense spikes or round clusters in red, pink, yellow, or white that attract hummingbirds.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
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Spread to Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, and Uganda plus clusters of unexplained deaths suggest a far larger outbreak than reported and raise fresh alarms over funding, supplies and regional preparedness.—
Chinedu Asadu,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Conversely, both teams are a combined 4-8 at home — the Sabres 2-4 in their barn, and the Canadiens now also 2-4 at the Bell Centre in these playoffs.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
The trade for Pittman and the drafting of Bernard could provide Rodgers with more big-play options after teams loaded up to stop DK Metcalf last year.—
Will Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phalanxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phalanxes. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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