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
Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham said to a crowd of more than 200 people at a City Council meeting this month that the city is conducting an education campaign, going to community events, making presentations at ward meetings and other gatherings. — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 In front of a rowdy Queens crowd, the superstars surged in their debut to a 5-3, 4-1 victory against Routliffe and Glasspool, despite a slow start. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
With all of that crowding onto your calendar, who has time to make dinner? — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026 For someone with a flexible foot or a narrow forefoot where the toes tend to crowd each other, separating the big toe from the second toe can reduce rubbing and irritation. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 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
  • 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
  • Since the 1700s, Jamaica’s populace has been dominated by the descendants of African slaves.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of populace
Verb
  • On a recent afternoon, the lanky, mustachioed Zucker, wearing a T-shirt, ballcap and small hoop earrings, bears little resemblance to his comic alter ego who sports a tattered suit with gag props stuffed in every pocket.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Thin-shelled yet not overly delicate, stuffed with amarena cherry-scented light ricotta bookended by bitter dark chocolate chips.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of stuff
Verb
  • As the number of new small businesses in the country continues to grow, and more people flock to digital banks, innovative fintechs like Contabilizei have an opportunity to become a key part of that domestic economic ecosystem.
    — Charlotte Hu, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Young people continue to flock to New York for its vast job market and opportunities, but affording a place to live is increasingly a challenge.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 24 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
  • The growth of agentic AI and the rise of cyber hacks orchestrated by agents are forcing companies to invest in more tools to manage swarms of new identities.
    — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This phrase is a complicated way of simply acknowledging the fact that Pluto sits within the Kuiper Belt, a vast swarm of bodies that go around the sun in similar orbits beyond Neptune.
    — Mike Brown, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crowd

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crowd

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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