swarms 1 of 3

noun

plural of swarm
as in throngs
a great number of persons or creatures massed together a swarm of tourists descends upon the island every summer

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swarms

2 of 3

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of swarm
1
as in flocks
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 bursts
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

swarms

3 of 3

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of swarm
as in climbs
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 swarms
Noun
The dearth of Patriot interceptors in Europe would leave few alternatives for shooting down Russia’s more advanced ballistic missiles, which can be combined with swarms of inexpensive drones to overwhelm defenses, experts say. — Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 The researchers envision eventually deploying swarms of specialized cyborg insects rather than relying on a single multifunctional machine. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026 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 Great teeming swarms of them, with an occasional locust seen in big buggy close-up, and shots of flying from a locust’s-eye view (the Steadicam had just been invented). — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 Aug. 2026 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, 19 Aug. 2026 After firefighters finally extinguished the blaze, the rotten food left behind putrid odors and swarms of flies in the community. — Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 The next transformation will come from collaborative swarms of AI agents capable of discovering solutions independently. — IEEE Spectrum, 17 Aug. 2026 Ultimately, swarms of AI could combine in rather disconcerting and dangerous ways. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
Still, Hafley’s defense swarms the Raiders and is too much to overcome. — Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 Before the gaggle of girls swarms her apartment, there’s a sweet moment when Steve drops his daughter off early, and the two divorcees engage in some flirty banter over pizza prep. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 17 June 2026 On the opposite corner, a herd of schoolchildren swarms a local television reporter. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 June 2026 Washington swarms with health specialists. — Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026 The unapologetically lurid tale of two families locked in an ever-complex cat’s cradle of class resentments and adulterous power plays also swarms with queen bees and jaw-droppingly muscular men that feel straight out of the Real Housewives playbook. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026 Launching swarms mid-air The aircraft was publicly displayed for the first time at Airshow China in Zhuhai in 2024, where Chinese broadcasters highlighted its potential military functions. — Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swarms
  1. throngs
  2. bursts
  3. climbs
  4. hordes
  5. buzzes
  6. scrambles
  7. flocks
  8. clambers
Noun
  • Why then, are throngs of armchair analysts online pointing fingers at her ex-husband, Patrick, blaming him for the deaths?
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The new 47-key Orient Express Venezia is an experience, housed within Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in the oldest and northernmost Cannaregio district, drawing high-end travelers away from the throngs.
    — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of throngs
Verb
  • Things quickly take a terrifying turn during surgery when a scorpion tail suddenly bursts through Perry’s back, attacking one of the surgeons mid-operation.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
  • Haaland bursts our bubble almost immediately by scoring in the opening five minutes, and Burnley miss a few good first-half chances, with striker Zian Flemming particularly culpable.
    — Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of bursts
Verb
  • As tuition climbs and federal oversight tightens on low-earning programs, a new tool lets families compare outcomes across California campuses.
    — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Maintenance and repair costs on a new car already run about 11 cents a mile, and that figure climbs as a vehicle ages and mileage increases.
    — Emily Mercer, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of climbs
Noun
  • Chino Hills State Park is almost never crowded, except during a spring super bloom, when the hillsides erupt in California poppies and hordes of would-be influencers arrive to take photos for Instagram.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Since it was designated the first national recreation area in 1964, hordes of visitors have cut Lake Mead’s glassy surface with jet skis and boats, carelessly dropping belongings that may now wash up on shore.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of hordes
Verb
  • Stand-Up Paddleboarding at Lakeside Marina Jessica Verne The alarm buzzes early on our second full day in South Lake Tahoe.
    — Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The kitchen buzzes as volunteers carry in trays of Creole dishes and barbecue while one of the sisters stirs a large cooler of lemon margaritas.
    — Windsor Johnston, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of buzzes
Verb
  • With his colleagues, including his good friend and fellow detective Max Abrahamsson (Henrik Norlén), in the dark, Thomas scrambles to solve the murders.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Kris tumbles, scrambles up, and, in the movie’s best throwaway, apologizes to the advancing killer.
    — JP Mangalindan, Time, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of scrambles
Noun
  • Editor’s pick More picks A rare bird draws flocks of Southern California birders to this Irvine marsh to get a glimpse.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Kessler recalls the sound of flocks of birds that were often nearby picked up by the microphones.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of flocks
Verb
  • On a weekend morning, a van leaves Damascus and clambers toward Monte Rosa, a rocky area on the outskirts of the Syrian capital.
    — Adri Salido, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026
  • His colleague, a newly qualified environmental engineer, clambers up onto the backseat.
    — Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
Definition of clambers

Browse Nearby Words

swarming
swarms
swart
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Cite this Entry

“Swarms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swarms. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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