phalanxes

noun

variants or phalanges
plural of phalanx
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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar 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 phalanxes The structural backbones of the phalanges are 3D-printed from PLA, while soft silicone interfaces provide friction and compliance when the fingers contact a branch. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026 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 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
  1. groups
  2. platoons
  3. brigades
  4. groupings
  5. bands
  6. batteries
  7. clusters
  8. teams
Noun
  • The other two, one in Miami and another in Tallahassee, were both filed by various voting rights groups on the same day DeSantis signed the bill — April 1.
    — Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Investigators were combing through the area in large groups, searching the ground for possible clues.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of groups
Noun
  • The Phillies will run outfield platoons in left and center for the remainder of the season.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Multiple schools across three states will soon have their own veritable platoons of pepper-spraying drones to hunt down active shooters, The Washington Post reports, waiting to spring into action the moment they’re called on.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 30 July 2026
Definition of platoons
Noun
  • So far, no mainstream Democratic politician has seemed willing to stir up the hornet’s nest by taking on the progressive brigades.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • In their Two Marines Substack newsletter, Lee and Putiata describe Drone Line, a concept that grouped Russian drone units by depth behind the front rather than attaching them to individual brigades.
    — David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of brigades
Noun
  • Lemon mostly worked in personnel groupings with Smith and Wicks.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The Phase One regional groupings for the Leagues Cup were as follows.
    — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of groupings
Noun
  • Clancy strangled the children with exercise bands in their home’s basement, then jumped from a second-floor window.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Juveniles can be distinguished by their dark facial bands and gray or tan body patterned with black or brown blotches.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of bands
Noun
  • Instead of relying on solar output only when the sun is shining, the batteries can store electricity and release it later when demand rises.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • And because putting screens on batteries is now en vogue, this one has a display showing charge level, power output, and the internal temperature.
    — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of batteries
Noun
  • Autumn Joy Stonecrop Also called autumn joy sedum, this hardy, summer- and fall-flowering perennial is known for its succulent foliage and dense clusters of tiny pink flowers.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Staple builds clusters of commerce by opening small businesses that locals will actually use, and then adds accommodations to attract visitors.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of clusters
Noun
  • There remain a lot of games on that schedule against teams with far more talent.
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The decision to leave off Camden Brown comes down to who can actually contribute on special teams.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of teams

Browse Nearby Words

phalanx
phalanxes
phantasm
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Phalanxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phalanxes. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All