swarm 1 of 3

noun

ˈswȯrm How to pronounce swarm (audio)
Definition of swarmnext
as in throng
a great number of persons or creatures massed together a swarm of tourists descends upon the island every summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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swarm

2 of 3

verb (1)

1
as in to flock
to move upon or fill (something) in great numbers meeting little resistance, the pirates swarmed the decks of the merchant ship

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2
as in to burst
to be copiously supplied at this time of year that Mexican resort swarms with college students on spring break

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

swarm

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to climb
to move (as up or over something) often with the help of the hands in holding or pulling one of the physical challenges had competitors swarming over a pile of logs

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 swarm
Noun
The rotting food has drawn swarms of flies and rats with a foul rancid smell that Boyle Heights residents have said kept them indoors, and business owners have said kept customers away. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 The sweltering Southern California heat couldn’t stop the swarm of music-loving fans from descending upon Irvine’s Great Park Saturday for the inaugural Daisy Chain Fields music festival. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
This translated directly onto the grounds, which were swarmed by 45,000 attendees, comprising teenage girls, moms, dads and everyone in between. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Spanish protesters and migrants clashed with police and each other in Ceuta, one month after a horde of over 70,000 Moroccan migrants abruptly swarmed the small Spanish enclave. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swarm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swarm
  1. throng
  2. flock
  3. burst
  4. climb
  5. crowd
  6. buzz
  7. scramble
  8. horde
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
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
  • The Fire Department rescued numerous residents who had become trapped by the flames, which were seen bursting from the building, KCTV5 reported at the time.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The illusion of a beautiful, war-free Dresden, however, would soon burst for these men, going as flat as the champagne bubbles after the wedding of Billy Pilgrim’s daughter.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of burst
Verb
  • After successfully climbing over some large rocks and a fence, Bellin made her way to the East Shore Bike Trail and walked barefoot and injured back to the beach.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • When summer hits and strong afternoon light pours through west- and south-facing glass, all that natural light turns into heat and your electric bill climbs with it.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of climb
Noun
  • The decision to present Nico to the St James’ crowd ahead of the West Bromwich Albion Carabao Cup tie was inspired, perpetuating the positivity brought about by the training-ground announcement and opening-day Liverpool draw.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Hershey is one of several big candy and snack-makers trying to cultivate younger crowds with new flavors and textures.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of crowd
Verb
  • The monsters of the original — the Cyclops and the sirens — are replaced by drones that buzz across the stage and models of robotic war machines.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • And as Forte mentioned, the film is being released amid glowing reviews and very positive audience buzz.
    — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of buzz
Verb
  • In Minneapolis—which had exploded into destructive mass protests following the murder of George Floyd by a police officer named Derek Chauvin in 2020—officials scrambled to prepare for a potentially similar response to Good’s killing.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • As Musashi scrambles through a school of Samurai, the game seamlessly bounces between skillful swordplay, rowdy improvisation, and Looney Tunes-style levity.
    — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of scramble
Noun
  • Then, a horde of onlookers zombie-stagger after Shakur and Knight, out of the casino, toward Las Vegas Boulevard.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of horde

Browse Nearby Words

swards
swarm
swarmed
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Cite this Entry

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

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