crush

1 to cause to become a pulpy mass <dark-colored grapes that will be crushed to make red wine> Synonyms mash, pulp, squash Related Words press, squeeze; beat, pound, powder, pulverize

2 to put a stop to (something) by the use of force <the government is doing everything to crush the latest guerrilla uprising> Synonyms clamp down (on), crack down (on), quell, put down, quash, repress, silence, slap down, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppressRelated Words douse (also dowse), extinguish, put out, quench; smother, stifle, strangle, throttle; annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, rub out, ruin, smash, waste, wreck; exterminate, obliterate, wipe out; conquer, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subdue, subjugate, vanquishNear Antonyms abet, aid, assist, back, help, prop up, support; foment, incite, instigate, provoke, stir, whip (up); advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote

3 to reduce to fine particles <crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce> Synonyms atomize, beat, bray, comminute, powder, disintegrate, grind, mill, mull, pound, pulverizeRelated Words grate, kibble; crumble, crunch; break, bust, dash, fracture, fragment; shatter, smash, splinter; micronize

4 to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress <the terrible news of her death simply crushed the entire family> Synonyms overwhelm, devastate, floor, grind (down), oppress, overcome, overmaster, overpower, prostrate, snow under, swamp, whelmRelated Words deluge, drown, sink; confute, defeat, refute; break, demoralize, distress, disturb, rock, shatter, stagger, throw, unman, unnerve, upset

5 to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of <after crushing the grapes, let the skins soak in the juice in order to extract some color> Synonyms {h,2}press, express, mash, squeezeRelated Words ream; pulp, puree (or purée); extract, extrude

6 to fit (people or things) into a tight space <the desperate refugees were crushed into the back of the truck> Synonyms cram, crowd, jam, ram, sandwich, shoehorn, squeeze, stuff, wedgeRelated Words fill, heap, jam-pack, load, pack

7 to put one's arms around and press tightly <she tearfully crushed the child to her breast> Synonyms bear-hug, clasp, embrace, enclasp, enfold, grasp, hug, strainRelated Words clamp, cling, cradle, grab, grip, hold; bosom, embosom, encircle, entwine, envelop, enwind; fold, lock, twine, wrap; cuddle, fondle, nestle, nuzzle, pat, pet, snuggle, stroke