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 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