Synonyms of pushing

pushing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpu̇-shiŋ 

1

as in ambitious

having a strong desire for personal advancement

among the young associates at the law firm, he was unmistakably the most pushing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ambitious
• aspiring
• driving
• hard-driving
• hustling
• energetic
• eager
• motivated
• dynamic
• go-getting
• diligent
• determined
• ardent
• hungry
• aggressive
• self-seeking
• enterprising
• competing
• lively
• venturesome
• industrious
• spirited
• competitive
• impassioned
• animated
• avid
• vigorous
• scrappy
• pushy
• rival
• gung ho
• assertive
• venturous
• opportunistic
• raring
• keen
• pretentious
• high-flying
• overambitious
• self-assertive
• rivalrous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifferent
• uninterested
• disinterested
• unambitious
• apathetic
• casual
• lackadaisical
• unexcited
• unenthusiastic
• easygoing
• lukewarm
• tepid
• lazy
• sluggish
• halfhearted
• uneager
• ambitionless
• lethargic
• listless
• shiftless
• lazyish
• spiritless
• unaggressive
• unassertive

2

as in busy

thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited

the sort of sycophantic, pushing man on the make that everyone loves to hate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• busy
• intruding
• prying
• interfering
• meddling
• pushy
• annoying
• intrusive
• officious
• meddlesome
• obtrusive
• presuming
• protrusive
• invading
• nosy
• rude
• snoopy
• presumptuous
• trespassing
• brazen
• curious
• impudent
• bumptious
• insolent
• harassing
• inquisitive
• bold
• impertinent
• overbearing
• pestiferous
• superserviceable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unobtrusive
• withdrawn
• silent
• retiring
• quiet
• reserved
• uninvolved
• restrained
• inhibited
• reticent
• hands-off
• reclusive
• subdued
• taciturn

pushing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of push

1

as in shoving

to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one

I had to push my damaged bike all the way home

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shoving
• driving
• thrusting
• propelling
• moving
• squeezing
• forcing
• jamming
• pressuring
• compressing
• bearing (down)
• weighing (upon)
• impelling
• squashing
• compelling
• depressing
• leaning (on or against)
• ramming
• muscling
• bulldozing

2

as in squeezing

to force one's way

we had to push our way through a crowd that was mostly headed in the opposite direction

Synonyms & Similar Words

• squeezing
• shoving
• pressing
• jamming
• crashing
• jostling
• elbowing
• bulldozing
• shouldering
• thrusting
• muscling
• boring
• bulling
• ramming

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pushing

Adjective

The weight limit was a necessary move to equalize race conditions and curb the use of athletic specialists who, although not bobsledders, have in the past proven decisive in their teams’ success through the pushing phase. — Alessio Caprodossi, Wired News, 15 Feb. 2026

Musk plunged into a controversy of his own making after tweeting and deleting a post pushing baseless allegations about the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. — Hamza Shaban, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2022

Verb

The intense interest in the case is one reason why her lawyers are pushing for a retrial – the town was so crowded that at one stage jury members shared a hotel with the prosecution team and an informant. — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

After the demise of SB 10, lawmakers were tepid on pushing any cash bail reforms until a ruling in 2021 known as the Humphrey ruling. — Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026

But last month, the president took an unprecedented step toward pushing that feud into the real world. — Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

The story of how Chicago beat the odds to become a hub of quarterback development isn’t necessarily a perfect storm, more like a steady rain that’s been pushing forward for 15 or 20 years. — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Bond prices rose following the announcement, pushing yields lower. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026

The unit also dabbled in artificial intelligence, which Hegseth has been pushing, and designing drones resistant to jamming. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Usually the pushback is a little bit vague because the people pushing back have not tried it. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026

As thousands of car enthusiasts prepare to descend on Metro Detroit for the annual Woodward Dream Cruise, a Michigan lawmaker is pushing legislation to crack down on excessively loud vehicles. — Terell Bailey, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026