Hoarder: meaning, definitions and examples

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hoarder

[ ˈhɔːrdər ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

person

A person who accumulates or hoards large quantities of objects or possessions, often to the point of excess and disorganization.

Synonyms

accumulator, collector, pack rat.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
hoarder	Used when describing a person who accumulates items to an excessive degree, often leading to clutter and disorganization. This term can have a negative connotation. She couldn't invite anyone over to her house; she was such a hoarder that there was no room for guests.
collector	Describes a person who actively seeks and acquires items of a particular kind, usually as a hobby or for their value. This term typically has a positive or neutral connotation. She is an avid collector of antique jewelry, and her collection is both valuable and beautiful.
pack rat	A casual, colloquial term for someone who keeps a lot of items, often more than necessary. The term has a mildly negative but less formal connotation compared to 'hoarder'. He's a bit of a pack rat; his garage is filled with boxes of things he might never use.
accumulator	Refers to someone who gathers items or data over time. Used in a more general and neutral way, often without the negative implications of 'hoarder'. As an accumulator of vintage cars, John's collection grew to include over 50 rare vehicles.

Examples of usage

The hoarder had so many newspapers in their house that they could barely walk through the rooms.
My neighbor is a hoarder and their garage is filled with boxes of items they never use.
The TV show featured a hoarder whose collection of items filled every corner of their home.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

animals

An animal that hoards or hides food for later consumption, such as squirrels or certain birds.

Synonyms

cache builder, food storer.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
hoarder	This word is commonly used to describe someone who accumulates an excessive amount of items, often unnecessarily. It usually has a negative connotation, implying that the person has a compulsion to collect and hold onto things, which may lead to clutter and disorder. She is a hoarder; her house is filled with things she doesn't need or use. The show features people who are extreme hoarders, struggling to let go of their possessions.
food storer	This phrase is specific to someone who stores food, often for reasons such as preparedness, conservation, or upcoming use. It does not carry a negative connotation but rather suggests practicality. As a food storer, she always ensures that her pantry is stocked with essentials. Being a food storer can be very useful in case of unexpected events like natural disasters.
cache builder	This term is more neutral and can be used in contexts involving someone who systematically stores items, particularly for future use. It implies organization and foresight rather than compulsion. He is a cache builder, always preparing for emergencies by storing necessary supplies. In wilderness survival, being a good cache builder can make a big difference.

Word

Description / Examples

hoarder

This word is commonly used to describe someone who accumulates an excessive amount of items, often unnecessarily. It usually has a negative connotation, implying that the person has a compulsion to collect and hold onto things, which may lead to clutter and disorder.

She is a hoarder; her house is filled with things she doesn't need or use.
The show features people who are extreme hoarders, struggling to let go of their possessions.

food storer

This phrase is specific to someone who stores food, often for reasons such as preparedness, conservation, or upcoming use. It does not carry a negative connotation but rather suggests practicality.

As a food storer, she always ensures that her pantry is stocked with essentials.
Being a food storer can be very useful in case of unexpected events like natural disasters.

cache builder

This term is more neutral and can be used in contexts involving someone who systematically stores items, particularly for future use. It implies organization and foresight rather than compulsion.

He is a cache builder, always preparing for emergencies by storing necessary supplies.
In wilderness survival, being a good cache builder can make a big difference.

Examples of usage

The squirrel is known as a hoarder, storing nuts and seeds for the winter months.
Certain bird species are considered hoarders as they collect food and hide it in various locations.

Translations

Translations of the word "hoarder" in other languages:

🇵🇹 acumulador

🇮🇳 संग्राहक

🇩🇪 Horter

🇮🇩 penimbun

🇺🇦 накопичувач

🇵🇱 chomik

🇯🇵 物をため込む人

🇫🇷 accumulateur

🇪🇸 acaparador

🇹🇷 istifçi

🇰🇷 저축가

🇸🇦 مكتنز

🇨🇿 hromaditel

🇸🇰 nahromaditeľ

🇨🇳 囤积者

🇸🇮 kopičilec

🇮🇸 safnari

🇰🇿 жиналғыш

🇬🇪 მზიდველი

🇦🇿 toplayıcı

🇲🇽 acaparador

Etymology

The term 'hoarder' originated from the Middle English word 'hordere', which meant a person who hoarded treasure or valuable items. Over time, the meaning evolved to include individuals who excessively collect or store objects. The concept of hoarding has been present throughout history, with references in literature and psychology dating back centuries.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,507, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

...
38504 tizzy
38505 jokey
38506 quoin
38507 hoarder
38508 owlish
38509 bagful
38510 serialize
...