Hoard vs Horde
What’s the difference between them?
Hoard
Meaning:
To accumulate and store a large amount of something for future use, often secretly or compulsively.
Examples:
1. She had hoarded a large supply of food in her basement for the winter.
2. The dragon was said to have hoarded a great treasure in its cave.
3. He had been hoarding money for years, in preparation for his retirement.
Horde
Meaning:
A large group of people or animals, especially one seen as savage or as a threat.
Examples:
1. The horde of tourists overwhelmed the small town.
2. The horde of ants marched across the picnic table.
3. The horde of teenagers descended on the mall.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Hoard
1. Accumulate
2. Stockpile
3. Accrue
4. Gather
5. Amass
1. Disperse
2. Divest
3. Spend
4. Give away
5. Scatter
Horde
1. Multitude
2. Crowd
3. Assembly
4. Legion
5. Unruly mob
1. Individual
2. Disperse
3. Alone
4. Isolate
5. Scatter
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Hoard", "Horde".
1. A hoard is a large amount of something that has been accumulated and stored up for future use, often as a result of intentional amassing.
2. A horde is a large group of people or animals.
3. To help you remember the correct spelling, you can think of a hoard as a 'stored hoard' because it is something that has been stored up for future use.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
In what situations should the first word be used?
Hoards are typically used to refer to a large number of objects that are collected together for a specific purpose. Hoards are usually kept private and are typically not intended to be shared or distributed.
When is the appropriate context for using the second word?
A horde is a large group of people who are travelling together. It is typically used to describe a large number of people to signify the size of a group or to convey a sense of movement and energy.
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
Yes, these words have similar pronunciation, so you have pay attention to the context to use the correct word.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
People often mistakenly interchange the two words, using hoard to describe a large group of people and horde to refer to a large pile of objects. Another mistake is mispronouncing the words, by not voicing the 'h' or 'd' sound when appropriate.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. The pirate captain amassed a great __ of treasure.
2. The __ of protesters marched through the city center.
3. The cat is infamous for its __ of stolen items.
4. The mountain goats formed a __ on the rocky ledge.
5. The dragon guards its gold __ ferociously.
6. The hero collected an impressive __ of magical artifacts.
1. The pirate captain amassed a great hoard of treasure.
Explanation: The word hoard is used to refer to a large collection of something, in this case treasure.
2. The horde of protesters marched through the city center.
Explanation: The word horde is used to refer to a large group of people or animals, in this case protesters.
3. The cat is infamous for its hoard of stolen items.
Explanation: The word hoard is used to refer to a large collection of something, in this case stolen items.
4. The mountain goats formed a horde on the rocky ledge.
Explanation: The word horde is used to refer to a large group of animals, in this case mountain goats.
5. The dragon guards its gold hoard ferociously.
Explanation: The word hoard is used to refer to a large collection of something, in this case gold.
6. The hero collected an impressive hoard of magical artifacts.
Explanation: The word hoard is used to refer to a large amount of something, in this case magical artifacts.
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Download the PDF with a list of commonly confused words made as flashcards for comfortable learning.
List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.