The term "populace" can be used to refer to a large and diverse group of people within a particular community or society. However, there are several other synonyms that can be used to describe this group. These include "public," "citizenry," "masses," and "population." Each of these words carries a slightly different connotation, with "public" suggesting a more general and widespread group, "citizenry" implying a more civic-minded group, "masses" suggesting a less-educated or lower-class group, and "population" referring to the total number of individuals in a given area. In any case, it is important for writers to choose the appropriate synonym that best captures the intended meaning of their writing.