crush 1 of 2

Definition of crushnext
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

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2
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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

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

7

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

2

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crush
Verb
Start on East Passyunk Avenue at Sao, a raw bar from the team behind the beloved Cambodian noodle house Mawn, for aged hamachi crudo dressed in coconut cream, torn lime leaves and crushed peanuts ($27). Regan Stephens, New York Times, 2 July 2026 In footage shared by attorney and independent journalist Aaron Parnas on Thursday, a group of young dancers were nearly crushed when a large panel plummeted to the stage during a live performance or rehearsal. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026
Noun
Think about rewinding or making a mixtape for your recent crush. Rotem Rozental, The Conversation, 29 June 2026 Most winners aren't used to handling millions of dollars, let alone the crush of publicity that comes with a Powerball jackpot. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for crush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crush
Verb
  • In total, Minnesota mashed a season-high six homers Saturday to down the Yankees 11-4 and even up the weekend series at 1-all.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 4 July 2026
  • Rooker, 31, is known as one of the most durable players in the league, having played in all 162 games last season and mashing at least 30 home runs in each of the last three seasons.
    Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • The security adjustments aren’t expected to quell Mexico’s World Cup fever.
    Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • The people ended up burning down the house of one of the tax collectors, prompting President George Washington to raise the first federal army against them and quickly quell the revolt.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • So Norway’s chefs brought their own coffee beans and grind every morning.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • If tension surfaces in a chat or client meeting, ground yourself by restating the facts, then suggest a next step everyone can accept.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • The city is recommending zoning regulations that fall in line with state statute while trying to calm residents who are worried data centers will overwhelm resources like water and energy and impose on their quality of life.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
  • But the ownership group is overwhelmed by left-wing politics.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • As artificial intelligence transforms the job market and rising living costs squeeze family budgets, the University of California system is making the case that its degrees remain valuable investments.
    Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
  • Breweries may not have the budget or staff to create art and with rising costs squeezing small businesses, many breweries started to feature obvious generative AI art prominently as a way to talk about events or create content.
    Em Sauter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • The wealthiest travelers have stopped trying to cram everything in.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • The semiconductor giant says it's now managed to cram nearly 100 billion tiny transistors on to a chip the size of a human fingernail.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Videos from these gatherings showing chanting crowds beneath concert lights, audience members crying, hugging strangers and dancing barefoot have racked up millions of views online.
    Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • On a recent afternoon outside the temple in central Kerala, Raman stood motionless as two children played, giggling and hugging its trunk.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Mars and Uranus’ alignment inspires you to follow your passions, but be mindful of the risks involved!
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Just don’t mistake them for the biggest Fourth of July fans — their passion is history, not patriotic celebrations.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 4 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Crush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crush. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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