1
2
as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
the government is doing everything to crush the latest guerrilla uprising
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grind
to reduce to fine particles
crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
the terrible news of her death simply crushed the entire family
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
6
7
as in to hug
to put one's arms around and press tightly
she tearfully crushed the child to her breast
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in swarm
a great number of persons or creatures massed together
the huge crush in the store must have far exceeded safety limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of crush
Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Independent venues have been crushed.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026
But the government forces kept firing into the crush of demonstrators.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crush
Verb
Rybakina’s response to hold for 4-1 felt like a crushing blow.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Independent venues have been crushed.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
Amid the normal pregame crush of Canadian media when the Wild visited Toronto earlier in the week, a reporter in the pregame scrum asked Hughes about his transition to a new team, new city and a new country.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026
But the government forces kept firing into the crush of demonstrators.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crush
Verb
-
The wheel could then be attached to a corn-grinding machine so that each step would help mash the kernels.—
Outside,
Outside,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Cheaper pruners use a blade and anvil — essentially one sharp blade that mashes the branch against a flat surface.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Police issued an update Wednesday to quell rumors about the circumstances of the accident.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The Islamic Republic launched a security crackdown earlier this month to quell protests, leaving thousands dead.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Russia's advance in Ukraine has largely settled into a grinding war of attrition, and analysts say that Russian President Vladimir Putin is in no rush to find a settlement, despite his army's difficulties on the roughly 600-mile front line.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The bright green powder is made from finely ground tea leaves, then whisked into hot water.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Their great taste whispers, never overwhelming those around them, but rather enthralling.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The few hospitals still working were overwhelmed by casualties.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pull upward, squeezing the lat muscle in your upper back at the top.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Pour salt onto the stain, then squeeze lemon juice over top.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For those who are able to board, cramming us together is unsafe, not to mention uncomfortable.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Television has always relied on big, gasp-inducing moments, but Murphy crams them in even at the expense of narrative cohesion.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Around her, dozens of community members lingered along the street with coffee handed out by volunteers, hugging old friends, calling out familiar names and answering a steady chorus of car horns with cheers and applause as students made their way toward campus, backpacks slung over their shoulders.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The girls stayed with their grandparents in the smallest of ten bahay kubo, traditional bamboo-stilt homes, that hugged a bend of the San Juan and were overgrown with mango and jam fruit trees.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Schemmel’s passion these days is working as an ambassador and chief fundraiser for Best Day Ministries in downtown Longmont.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
31 Jan. 2026
-
If Boca Championship Wrestling sounds like an unusual passion project for a real-estate broker, Maschler is quick to explain the overlap.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crush. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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