variants
or phalanges
as in groups
formal
a large collection of people, animals, or things often placed close together
A solid phalanx of armed guards stood in front of the castle. She had to go through a phalanx of television cameras.
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Recent Examples of phalanxes
Limbs are quickly assembled from shoulders and hips down to the phalanges.
—
Jeff Wilson, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Jennifer Lawrence, who recently accessorized her black-and-white Lii dress with a slew of silver rings across her phalanges.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2025
In earlier times, ungulate toe-bones (phalanges) were commonly used across various cultures to make ornaments, game pieces, handles, and figurines.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
The further out one is known as the interphalangeal joint because your toe has two bones, the distal and the proximal phalanges.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Jeff Wilson, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Jennifer Lawrence, who recently accessorized her black-and-white Lii dress with a slew of silver rings across her phalanges.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2025
In earlier times, ungulate toe-bones (phalanges) were commonly used across various cultures to make ornaments, game pieces, handles, and figurines.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2025
The further out one is known as the interphalangeal joint because your toe has two bones, the distal and the proximal phalanges.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for phalanxes
Noun
-
This renovated historic home was designed by Samuel Masters and features six bedrooms with four full bathrooms; ideal for groups and families.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The company operates on behalf of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff, using a network of intermediaries and vessels to move sanctioned crude, with proceeds helping fund the country’s military programs and regional proxy groups.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Rays were also at the forefront of other innovations and/or adjustments, such as defensive shifts, lineup platoons, matchup bullpens, star-quality super-utility players and putting a numbers nerd (technically a process and analytics coach) in the dugout.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
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Outfield requires far more starting spots, and most of those available later in drafts are locked in platoons.—
Dalton Del Don,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In Cairo, a famously nocturnal city, shops and restaurants are now forced to close at 9 pm, with police brigades sweeping through the broad downtown avenues to urge everyone to go home.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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As of 2024, Cuba had 54 brigades with more than 22,600 medical workers, according to Granma, the official newspaper of Cuba's communist party.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Twenty of the panels were accumulators with the same design, so the students started with these, then worked through smaller groupings of panels.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The project aims to launch a total of 11 satellites that will fly in low Earth orbit to test signals across various frequency bands in order to improve positioning and navigation.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Other technical signals, such as the commodity channel index and Bollinger bands, also indicate that the stock's position is precarious.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Researchers at the University of Osaka have developed a wireless EEG transmission system that runs using body heat, showing that wearable brain-monitoring devices may one day work without batteries.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Insert batteries in the back of the unit, install the front and turn on the electricity.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The fragrant white, pink, or purple flower clusters appear in spring.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
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Solar wind charge exchange had previously been considered interference or background noise interfering with astronomers' attempts to measure the density and temperature of plasma in distant galaxies and galaxy clusters.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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During their time together, Snead and McVay built teams that have played in two Super Bowls, winning one, and made eight playoff appearances.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Name the three teams without mascots.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Phalanxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/phalanxes. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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