horde

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "horde" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a large group of people or things, often in a chaotic or unruly manner. Example: "A horde of fans rushed to the stage as the band began to play."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our long legs could carry us much faster than the pursuing horde and we soon found ourselves out of breath in a quiet sidestreet, happily without entourage but completely lost.

The Guardian - Music

Are we now a horde of individuals driven by self-interest, striving for life's lottery win, the big break.

The Guardian - Film

The horde followed the airport employee upstairs, with journalists running up downward escalators to get ahead, and the invitees were ushered through a service door guarded by police and into a hallway with a metal detector.

The Guardian

He became California's first millionaire by selling picks, shovels, beans and bacon to the horde of prospectors who heeded his call.Gold fever spread fast.

The Economist

Canadian ski resorts are training Chinese instructors to help attract their share of the 5m-10m Chinese practising the sport up from just 10,000 in 1996.Appealing to the new Chinese horde means tapping into their love of a good romantic tale, says John Kester of the UN World Tourism Organisation.

The Economist

The problem is that this horde of authorities is drawn from a narrow professional milieu.

The Economist

General Nezzar's witnesses argued that the army had saved the country from falling into the hands of a barbarian horde.

The Economist

It was the zealots and extremists, fuelled by global jihadist networks, who gained a reputation for fighting hardest and most effectively.A self-fulfilling prophet, Mr Assad now poses as the defender of Syria's pluralist urban middle class against a fanatical, impoverished and foreign-sponsored Sunni horde.

The Economist

Character sketches, Mr Davenport-Hines's great talent, reveal a horde of Treasury oddballs.

The Economist

A small horde of Omani diplomats, ministers and academics came for a three-day symposium, ostensibly on the history of Islam in east Africa.

The Economist

It is not necessary to spend a fortune on special effects—a horde of extras spattered with fake blood can do the trick, and tends to look a lot more realistic than a computer-generated werewolf.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the word "horde" when you want to convey the idea of a large, often disorganized or overwhelming group. It can add emphasis and a sense of scale to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "horde" in highly formal or professional writing where a more neutral term like "group" or "number" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The word "horde" primarily functions as a noun, referring to a large group of people or things, often in a somewhat disorganized or overwhelming manner. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "horde" is a versatile noun used to describe a large group of people or things, often with connotations of disorganization or overwhelming numbers. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage. It appears most frequently in News & Media contexts. When writing, consider the formality of your piece as "horde" might not be suitable for highly formal or scientific contexts. Alternatives like "throng", "multitude", and "swarm" can provide similar meanings with varying nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

throng

Implies a densely packed crowd, often moving.

multitude

Suggests a very large number, often uncountable.

mass

Describes a large body of people or things, typically undifferentiated.

swarm

Implies a large, dense group, often moving quickly and somewhat chaotically.

flock

Describes a group of animals or people gathered together.

assembly

Suggests a formal or organized gathering of people.

legion

Refers to a vast number, often implying a military or organized body.

host

Indicates a large number or multitude of people or things.

army

Specifically denotes a large organized military force, also used metaphorically for a large group.

onslaught

Implies a forceful or overwhelming attack or influx.

FAQs

How can I use "horde" in a sentence?

You can use "horde" to describe a large, often disorganized group of people or things. For example, "A "horde" of tourists visited the museum."

What can I say instead of "horde"?

You can use alternatives like "throng", "multitude", or "swarm" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "horde" in formal writing?

While "horde" is a valid word, it can sometimes carry a negative connotation of disorganization or chaos. In formal writing, consider more neutral terms like "group" or "number" depending on your intended meaning.

What is the difference between "horde" and "crowd"?

"Horde" often suggests a larger, more chaotic, and sometimes more menacing group than a "crowd". A crowd can be orderly, while a ""horde"" implies a lack of order.