Synonyms of crowd

crowd 1 of 2

noun

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

• throng
• flock
• swarm
• horde
• multitude
• mob
• legion
• army
• masses
• mass
• herd
• host
• drove
• press
• rout
• crush
• bike
• millions
• rabble
• scrum
• cram
• gaggle
• riffraff
• pile
• mountain
• heap
• rabblement
• jam
• logjam

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

• community
• bunch
• circle
• clique
• network
• pack
• gang
• clan
• club
• organization
• body
• coterie
• lot
• fold
• coven
• tribe
• ring
• set
• commune
• society
• elite
• camp
• fraternity
• guild
• college
• faction
• in-group
• squad
• klatch
• league
• galère
• side
• closed shop
• sect
• coalition
• brotherhood
• sorority
• charmed circle
• bloc
• union
• fellowship
• mess
• federation
• sisterhood
• congress
• council
• alliance
• order
• confederation
• sodality

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• individualist
• loner

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

• populace
• people
• public
• mob
• mass
• millions
• commoners
• commons
• multitude
• herd
• plebeians
• plebs
• rank and file
• cattle
• rabble
• hoi polloi
• proletariat
• riffraff
• unwashed
• rout
• scum
• middle class
• bourgeoisie
• rabblement
• trash
• ragtag and bobtail
• tag, rag, and bobtail

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elite
• cream
• flower
• choice
• pride
• aristocracy
• elect
• A-list
• fat
• upper crust
• pick
• pink
• society
• best
• quality
• nobility
• royalty
• corps d'elite
• gentry
• gentility
• gentlefolk
• patriciate
• peerage
• haute monde

crowd

2 of 2

verb

ˈkrau̇d 

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

• stuff
• cram
• squeeze
• sandwich
• load
• jam
• pack
• wedge
• ram
• crush
• fill
• shoehorn
• heap
• jam-pack

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

• flock
• mob
• throng
• invade
• swarm
• beset
• overrun
• jam
• dam
• infest
• plug (up)
• obstruct
• clog

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

• huddle
• pile
• bunch
• flock
• cluster
• swarm
• herd
• throng
• mob
• assemble
• press
• converge
• surround
• congregate
• conglomerate
• hug
• collect
• concentrate
• convene
• encircle
• forgather
• concenter
• embrace

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• split (up)
• disperse
• break up
• disband

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

Recent Examples of crowd

Noun

Blocks from the main entrance to Southern University A&M, a small crowd hung around a convenience store, but people were unwilling to talk about politics, eyeing strangers suspiciously. — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Several of France’s influential unions joined Tuesday’s rallies, as crowds gathered in Paris, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse and other cities. — Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026

Verb

Imperceptibly, Jupiter crowded along, nearer and nearer to the big light of the night. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Those around her unzip their tents after a night of little sleep on a square normally crowded with tourists. — Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Oct. 2026