Synonyms of crush

crush 1 of 2

verb

ˈkrəsh 

1

as in to mash

to cause to become a pulpy mass

dark-colored grapes that will be crushed to make red wine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mash
• squeeze
• pulp
• squash
• press
• powder
• beat
• pound
• pulverize

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

• quell
• suppress
• subdue
• repress
• quash
• destroy
• stifle
• overcome
• silence
• squash
• sit on
• squelch
• crack down (on)
• extinguish
• snuff (out)
• slap down
• clamp down (on)
• demolish
• put down
• obliterate
• throttle
• ruin
• quench
• decimate
• annihilate
• smother
• smash
• dominate
• strangle
• conquer
• exterminate
• wipe out
• wreck
• subjugate
• vanquish
• douse
• desolate
• put out
• overwhelm
• devastate
• waste
• overpower
• nuke
• rub out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• help
• assist
• aid
• support
• back
• stir
• provoke
• promote
• encourage
• abet
• prop up
• incite
• forward
• cultivate
• foster
• advance
• whip (up)
• nurture
• further
• foment
• instigate
• nourish

3

as in to grind

to reduce to fine particles

crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grind
• pound
• beat
• disintegrate
• powder
• pulverize
• mill
• crumble
• smash
• atomize
• mull
• bray
• grate
• shatter
• comminute
• fracture
• break
• fragment
• crunch
• bust
• splinter
• dash
• kibble
• micronize

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

• overwhelm
• overcome
• devastate
• oppress
• overpower
• grind (down)
• floor
• disturb
• rock
• prostrate
• swamp
• defeat
• drown
• snow under
• whelm
• overmaster
• shatter
• upset
• throw
• sink
• refute
• distress
• demoralize
• confute
• deluge
• stagger
• break
• unnerve
• unman

5

as in to squeeze

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 & Similar Words

• squeeze
• express
• press
• mash
• extract
• pulp
• ream
• puree
• extrude

6

as in to cram

to fit (people or things) into a tight space

the desperate refugees were crushed into the back of the truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

• squeeze
• cram
• stuff
• wedge
• load
• sandwich
• jam
• ram
• pack
• crowd
• shoehorn
• fill
• heap
• jam-pack

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

• hug
• clasp
• cling
• cradle
• embrace
• grab
• grasp
• hold
• wrap
• strain
• bear-hug
• enfold
• enclasp
• clamp
• grip
• pat
• encircle
• bosom
• snuggle
• envelop
• lock
• fold
• entwine
• stroke
• cuddle
• pet
• embosom
• fondle
• nestle
• enwind
• nuzzle
• twine

crush

2 of 2

noun

1

as in passion

a strong but often short-lived liking for another person

fondly remembers the crush that she had on a boy one summer long ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

• passion
• love
• affection
• obsession
• infatuation
• mash
• rage
• fixation
• devotion
• fondness
• craze
• vogue
• fad

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

• swarm
• throng
• flock
• crowd
• horde
• army
• mob
• press
• mass
• multitude
• drove
• legion
• masses
• host
• rout
• herd
• bike
• cram
• millions
• scrum
• pile
• rabble
• mountain
• heap
• rabblement
• gaggle
• jam
• riffraff
• logjam

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun crush differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of crush are crowd, horde, mob, and throng. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

When might crowd be a better fit than crush?

While the synonyms crowd and crush are close in meaning, crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

When is mob a more appropriate choice than crush?

The words mob and crush can be used in similar contexts, but mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

How do throng and horde relate to one another, in the sense of crush?

Both throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters

a horde of shoppers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of crush

Verb

Katie Ledecky crushes the world record in the 1,500 freestyle for her second gold medal at the world swimming championships in Barcelona, Spain. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

That led to the 1914 Trans-Antarctic Expedition aboard The Endurance, and the harrowing lifeboat journey to bring rescue to a crew that was stranded when the ship was crushed by ice. — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 30 July 2026

Noun

Through a bizarre set of circumstances, Dusty’s drawn into a pickleball quartet comprised of older women, developing a crush on their ringleader (Mary Steenburgen), before squaring off against his nemesis with the future of the club on the line. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 24 July 2026

The show’s stars have previously shared that Prince’s appearance was due in part to a possible crush on actress Simone, 45. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026