crowd 1 of 2

noun

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
as in community
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially the fashionable crowd at the polo tournament

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in populace
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite no national leader was ever more hated by the crowd

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

crowd

2 of 2

verb

ˈkrau̇d How to pronounce crowd (audio)
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
as in to huddle
to gather into a closely packed group everyone crowded around to see the baby being shown off by his proud parents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Late arriving crowds are part of the LA sports experience, even at USC, because getting places in LA is an unpredictable guessing game. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 As federal agents increasingly used chemical irritants on crowds, Michael Cavlan began spending less time patrolling and more time treating people who’d been hurt. — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
The small table was crowded with bottles of sparkling San Pellegrino and fancy saucières filled with every sauce and condiment on offer. — Jonny Hallam, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 At the same time, John Leguizamo, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway and Samantha Morton crowd a supporting field. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crowd
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crowd
  1. throng
  2. community
  3. populace
  4. stuff
  5. flock
  6. huddle
  7. swarm
  8. bunch
Noun
  • The cows made their way to the altar — with the handlers helping to guide them with hay — through throngs of people and a few mascots sitting in seats and lined up on the streets, who stopped by just to see the unique occasion.
    — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Officers also described the throng of parents searching for children and spouses who worked at the school, including a woman who said her husband had grabbed their child and hidden near an ice machine in the basement of the church.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of throng
Noun
  • Owner Matthew Doeding aims to create a community third space for gamers to gather and play.
    — Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The hospital was run by Louisiana State University, which determined that Katrina left the building too damaged to reopen — an assessment that was disputed by some hospital staff and community members.
    — JACK BROOK, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of community
Noun
  • China also hopes to encourage more citizens to exercise, thereby making an aging populace more active and reducing strain on the health system.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • This is where the irrationality of antisemitic conspiracy gains no purchase among a reasoning and pragmatic populace; where government is led by people who grasp, and embrace, the seriousness of their responsibilities.
    — Rory Lancman, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of populace
Verb
  • The O’Connell clan’s reach extended far beyond a little bribery and ballot stuffing.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Reviews do note that, due to the cushion stuffing being so full, a quick fluffing may be required after sitting for long periods of time, just to get the fill back to normal.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of stuff
Verb
  • Each year, hordes of celebrities — including A-list musicians — flock to The Met in New York City to walk the red carpet in avant-garde outfits inspired by the Costume Institute’s spring theme.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 31 Aug. 2026
  • After news of her passing broke on August 25, fans flocked to the estate to pay respects, per WKRN.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of flock
Verb
  • Welding classes used to have students huddled behind a teacher who demonstrated a technique, Estrada said.
    — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • During a brief courtroom break to address an audio issue, Lutnick huddled with DOJ lawyers.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of huddle
Noun
  • There were swarms of flies and numerous rats at, near or on the bodies.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Launching swarms of small, light interceptors to defend the United States from incoming nuclear missiles may no longer be so far-fetched.
    — Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of swarm
Noun
  • But getting to these moments means being okay with being confused, and that’s because season 2 really ratchets up the complexity primarily by introducing a whole bunch of new characters, most of whom are variants of existing ones.
    — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Of the recent tide of Gen-Z offerings, this is the best of the bunch, with its mix of absurdist humor and heartfelt sentiment.
    — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of bunch

Browse Nearby Words

crow's nests
crowd
crowded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crowd.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crowd. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crowd

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crowd

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