1
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grind
to reduce to fine particles
crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
5
6
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
1
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of crush
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Stir crushed graham crackers, pecans, and coconut into egg mixture (mixture will be thick).
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2025
Eric and his friend Brian both have crushes on a girl, Sarah (Amélie Hoeferle).
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crush
Verb
It’s revealed that Sklar was Lori’s inspiration as a child to become an artist, only to crush that spark a dozen or so years later with stinging cruelty.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Stir crushed graham crackers, pecans, and coconut into egg mixture (mixture will be thick).
—Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
The same is true of Rafi, a 14-year-old who loves to play rough in bucolic surroundings and has a new crush, but also dreams of martyrdom.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2025
Eric and his friend Brian both have crushes on a girl, Sarah (Amélie Hoeferle).
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crush
Verb
-
This is some of the baggage that accompanies the most shadowy of sensations – a truly biological, psychological, social, cultural, environmental phenomenon, all mashed together.—
Dr. Sanjay Gupta,
CNN Money,
2 Sep. 2025
-
In the Philadelphia Phillies' 19-4 drubbing of the Atlanta Braves, Schwarber mashed four home runs, becoming just the 21st player in MLB history to do so.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Zips are viewed as one of the worst teams in the FBS this season, and the debut game against Wyoming did nothing to quell those concerns.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Trump has also repeatedly threatened to send in National Guard troops to assist the efforts and to help quell violent crime, which the president has tried to paint as out of control but in fact has been steadily decreasing in Chicago in recent years.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Just keep grinding, keep working.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
-
That’s when most of the area’s biggest theaters grind back into action.—
David Lyman,
The Enquirer,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As the infection overwhelms the body, severe drops in blood pressure further starve vital organs of oxygen.—
Michal Ruprecht,
NPR,
8 Sep. 2025
-
That’s a fast track to overwhelm, a broken budget, and frustration.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The shakeups are the latest at a time when restaurants are squeezed between a labor shortage, rising food prices and a loss of customers as diners cut back on spending.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
-
For now, the three youngest each sleep in their own pack-and-plays squeezed into their parents’ bedroom.—
Jeff Truesdell,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There is a clear risk for streamers cramming sports into their portfolios.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
They’re also made with arch support and a toe box that’s not too narrow or crammed, per the brand, plus the rubber sole offers a nice cushioned platform with each step.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Dennis tries to hug Roman, but Roman attacks him, punching him multiple times before leaving the hotel room.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The oldest neighborhood in Miami, Coconut Grove is a sedate enclave that hugs Biscayne Bay about a dozen miles from South Beach—but up to an hour by car during peak traffic—with the iconic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens as its cultural and architectural center.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Her passion spread more during the pandemic when some things were hard to get so Quigley began growing her own lettuce.—
Erik S. Hanley,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
To wit, Andrea Tarella has succeeded in transforming his passion for drawing into a profession, working with brands ranging from Prada and Gucci to Valentino.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crush. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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