Thesaurus results for HORDE

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

horde

noun

ˈhȯrd

Definition of 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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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 The Hitlerite hordes are murdering and outraging the peaceful inhabitants of our country, having no mercy on women, children or old people. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026 Just weeks ago, Colombian-Mexican restaurant Paisa MX welcomed hordes of World Cup spectators. — Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026 The president also frequently recounts that hordes of women, including journalists, Cabinet members and administration officials, used to complain to him about their high heels getting stuck in the mud in the old, grassy Rose Garden. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 Video from Hilton’s neighborhood taken by NBC South Florida showed a horde of sheriff’s patrol vehicles along a street blocked off by yellow tape amid the response. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for horde

Recent Examples of Synonyms for horde

Noun

Kyiv has stepped up its attacks on Russia this year, with long-range missiles and swarms of drones targeting military industries and energy facilities.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Hundreds of thousands of collisions would happen every year, each unleashing its own swarm of hazardous, high-speed orbital shrapnel.

— Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of swarm

Noun

The defendant and his legal team declined to speak with a throng of reporters outside the courthouse.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
Right in the middle of cheering, reveling masses was MARTA — a connective system of veins that efficiently moved the happy throngs.

— Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of throng

Noun

But Scott Burnstein, a mob historian and journalist from Detroit, says Cacioppo has connections with figures involved in the mob.

— Jack Harvel August 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026
Either way, eventually the discontent reaches a fever pitch and thousands of smallfolk form a mob and storm the Dragonpit.

— James Grebey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of mob

Articles Related to horde

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Style

“Horde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horde. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of horde

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