as in throngs
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
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Recent Examples of hordes
Theme parks use hordes of performers to bring their worlds to life.
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Sasha Richie, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
But the number of Oscar voters in town explodes each year once the fest kicks off, as hordes of actors, directors, writers, songwriters, executives, publicists and others descend on the city, which normally has a population of less than 45,000.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 2 Jan. 2026
The boom spilled into credit markets as well, with firms only tangentially linked to defense attracting hordes of prospective lenders.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Bardot gave birth while trapped in her Paris apartment, outside of which hordes of photographers were camped awaiting the momentous event.
—Lee Smith, CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025
Even Mount Fuji doubled its entry fee in March to curb the number of reckless hikers, and small towns put up 80-foot walls to stop hordes of tourists from taking photos of the country's tallest mountain.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
However, gunning down hordes of zombies, Nazis, demons, and whatnot with prejudice?
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Outside in the lot, where the metal hordes are gathered, two large stages face each other across an expanse of a few hundred yards, and when a band (say, Gideon) stops playing at one end, another band (say, Full of Hell) starts up—immediately—at the other end.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025
The book, which is from Australia, follows Bee and her fellow runaways, who discover a new friend, Paco, is a Lost Boy from Neverland who needs them to fight hordes of pirates led by a merciless new leader.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hordes
Noun
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Shooting scene becomes site of vigil Hours after the shooting, throngs of neighbors gathered at a vigil near the scene to remember Good and express their outrage at her killing.—
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In its early years, the mall hosted a variety of celebrities and entertainment, from walk-around cartoon characters for throngs of exuberant kids to a visit from Chicago radio icon Dick Biondi for autographs.—
Noun
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The 236-foot former drug-runner ship Hilma Hooker offers one of the most impressive wreck dives in the region, though the vertical walls at The Cliff, vibrant reefs at Sweet Dreams, and swarms of sealife at Salt Pier are just as unforgettable.—
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The system uses several 50 kW industrial laser units to create a single powerful beam that kills drone swarms, cruise missiles, and fast-moving threats from a long distance.—
Noun
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To prevent their flocks from contracting bird flu, officials suggest poultry owners keep their animals away from wild and migratory birds, isolate animals with signs of illness, disinfect equipment and other items, and limit the flock's contact with people.—
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Recent outbreaks were documented at poultry farms and backyard flocks in states including Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, Nebraska and New York, affecting more than 128,000 birds combined.—
Noun
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As the confrontation escalated, agents deployed a flash-bang device while crowds threw bricks and paint cans from rooftops.—
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Zion National Park is stunning and peaceful in winter, with fewer crowds and rare access to scenic drives by personal vehicle.—
Cite this Entry
“Hordes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hordes. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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