horde

as in swarm
a great number of persons or creatures massed together a horde of mosquitoes hordes of tourists from the cruise ship crowded the shops and cafes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun horde differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of horde are crowd, crush, mob, and throng. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters
a horde of shoppers

When is it sensible to use crowd instead of horde?

The synonyms crowd and horde are sometimes interchangeable, but crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

When might crush be a better fit than horde?

The words crush and horde can be used in similar contexts, but crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

When can mob be used instead of horde?

The meanings of mob and horde largely overlap; however, mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

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 horde Two Series Regulars Leaving in Wake of Explosive 2-Hour Finale ‘GIVE SARAH MY LOVE’ | Outside Jackson’s walls, the bodies of the infected horde are still smoldering. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 27 Apr. 2025 Romance has always been a popular genre, but is often stigmatized for the same reason hordes of people seek it out: its set rules. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2025 Untold hordes more have traditionally surrounded the court while standing. Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 12 May 2025 From the ’90s originals to the series’ resurrection in recent years, the Doom games have always been about using constant, zippy motion to dodge through a sea of relatively slow-moving bullets, maintaining your distance while firing back at encroaching hordes of varied monsters. ArsTechnica, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for horde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horde
Noun
  • Joseph Quinn’s Hellfire Club captain Eddie, a new fan favorite, sadly perished after being attacked by a swarm of Demobats in Episode 9.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 2 June 2025
  • These swarms are faster, more adaptive, and more resilient.
    Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • As part of the celebration, someone blew bubbles amid the throng of Pointers.
    San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2025
  • On Tuesday, a massive throng of Palestinians overran the first GHF aid site in southern Gaza, tearing down some of the fencing and climbing over crowd control barriers.
    Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • The Ronna’s Hut owner is gearing up for a much bigger crowd on June 7 because word of mouth for some reason is strong, with thousands of comments left on the festival’s social media.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2025
  • In April, a 30-year-old man sped an SUV down a closed street into a crowd of people attending a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, Canada, killing 11.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • But Pope Francis had a way of speaking to those who had fled, bringing back the flock and inviting new believers to the table.
    Laura Castañeda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
  • The Velvet Denim offers a tactile feel that is customizable thanks to the flock finishes that can be tailored to specific design requirements.
    Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • In a further sign that Hamas, which has been controlling the flow of food and supplies, is losing its grip, a mob broke into a warehouse in central Gaza to take flour.
    The Editors, National Review, 29 May 2025
  • El-Amin’s uncle, Dennis Hubert, was an 18-year-old Black divinity student in 1930 when a mob of seven White men lynched him on the playground of an Atlanta school.
    Jade Walker, CNN Money, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Horde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horde. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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