crush 1 of 2

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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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
Demerara syrup 3 fresh lime wedges 6 fresh mint leaves Muddle syrup with the limes in a Tom Collins glass, crush the mint leaves by putting them in the palms of your hands and clapping once or twice, add rum and club soda and tap down a long spoon and stir. Mark Gauert, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2025 Shoes that are not shipped out for resale by Sneaker Impact are crushed and given a second life as foam, rubber or textiles. Cristian Benavides, CBS News, 16 May 2025
Noun
Heuston plays the Season 1 love rival role of Justin, Hannah’s (Bright) longtime crush, a college rock band singer. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 6 May 2025 Shortly after a fine break, Journalism had gotten forced toward the rail in the classic Derby crush but was deftly piloted clear by jockey Umberto Rispoli. Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for crush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crush
Verb
  • The more apparitions that arrive, the more the Delta blues mashes up with hip-hop, rock, and other styles.
    EW.com, EW.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Stroman’s abysmal opening inning began with Mike Yastrzemski mashing his first pitch — an 89.4-mph sinker over the heart of the plate — for a double.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Several protesters were injured, some of them critically, by Flash-balls fired by riot police, or by cops sent out to quell demonstrations that were growing increasingly unwieldy.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
  • It’s also infused with aloe and calendula extracts, which are soothing to skin and help quell redness.
    Deanna Pai, Vogue, 15 May 2025
Verb
  • These interests, the thinking goes, feed into a culture that grinds the spirits of bright young women into pixie dust by insisting that their outward appearance is ultimately more important than their actions.
    Faran Krentcil, The Atlantic, 14 May 2025
  • After two decades grinding in the music business, Pankey got frustrated with something fundamental.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • Authorities said rushing water in a nearby creek overwhelmed the area.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • Whatever the case, Indiana’s full-court pressure, physicality on the perimeter and timely shooting overwhelmed the Cavs at times and were enough to overcome early and late deficits at other points throughout the series.
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Custom Container Living View 8 Images Custom Container Living has transformed a shipping container into an ultra-compact tiny house that squeezes a home for two into just 160 sq ft (14.8 sq m).
    Adam Williams May 08, New Atlas, 8 May 2025
  • Auto dealers, squeezed by President Donald Trump’s tariffs on the industry, are already seeing a tighter supply of vehicles to offer buyers at a time when sticker prices for many models are set to climb. Pine Belt Subaru in Lakewood, New Jersey, normally receives 100 to 120 cars a month.
    Brian Cheung, NBC news, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • They were bullied, beaten, humiliated, tortured and shot, with productive laborers crammed on top of one another in the dirty stone barracks—separately from the Jewish prisoners, whose numbers grew ever larger.
    Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
  • From a purely materialistic point of view, becoming a parent means transitioning into an existence crammed with a mind-boggling amount of stuff—stuff to acquire, assemble and incorporate into your (increasingly hectic) daily routine.
    Darryn King, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Verb
  • On one hand, the Pacers essentially had four-on-four opportunities with Haliburton and his defender all but hugging 30+-feet from the rim.
    Tony East, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • Ozturk, who appeared remotely from Louisiana and testified before the court, was seen hugging her lawyer after Sessions delivered his decision from the bench.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • Back then, classic Defenders weren’t very common in the U.S., but Marcello had fallen in love with the car as a teenager, and buying one was the continuation of what has become a lifelong passion.
    Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 15 May 2025
  • The Savage brothers ultimately pursued other passions beyond acting, with Fred working extensively as a TV director and Ben getting into Los Angeles politics.
    Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crush. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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