crushed 1 of 2

as in oppressed
suffering grave abuse or injustice at the hands of one in authority a tyrant seemingly untroubled by the crushed masses that he left in his wake

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crushed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of crush
1
as in mashed
to cause to become a pulpy mass dark-colored grapes that will be crushed to make red wine

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2
3
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5
as in squeezed
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

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6
as in stuffed
to fit (people or things) into a tight space the desperate refugees were crushed into the back of the truck

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7

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 crushed
Adjective
If the fluids were removed without replacement, the immense geological weight of the overlying earth would cause the salt domes to collapse inward like a crushed shield. Siddharth Misra, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 The other roughly 95% is a crushed powder that is called tailings. Erin Hassanzadeh, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026 For dessert, try serrasura, made from cream and crushed biscuits. Ann Lee, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026 Tart, bright, and fresh, this is essentially a gin sour with a plush kiss of blackberry liqueur, made extra refreshing by crushed ice. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026 Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, broth, salt, black pepper, oregano, and red pepper; bring to a boil over medium-high. Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026 Benefits and uses of peppermint oil Made from crushed peppermint leaves, peppermint oil comes in various forms, each with its own use. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 The ball rolled to the sticky floor, littered with crushed six-pack carriers and a fine layer of winter sludge, and two competitors dove to fetch it. Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026 The architects used building materials like bricks made of crushed sand and ash residue that have been found to be effective insulators, deflecting heat. Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
The very next day, like an anvil falling from the sky, Forte and his collaborators were crushed by the news that Warner Bros, the film’s studio, had decided to shelve the movie for a tax write-off. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026 The Horned Frogs crushed the Tar Heels 48-14 in last year’s season opener at Chapel Hill, ruining the college coaching debut of six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026 After a fielder’s choice and a walk, Nootbaar crushed a 2-2 pitch over the right-field wall for a 4-0 lead. ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 Cleeland then rolled out and hit Pickett, who raced in the final 5 yards as UCD crushed the hopes of the Vikings for the second time in recent years. Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 For an aromatic variation, add a few sprigs of rosemary or thyme, a bay leaf, black peppercorns, or crushed red pepper flakes before the pan goes into the oven (see Herby Garlic Confit). Jeremy Fox, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 When disposable vape cartridges are put in garbage or recycling bins, they can be crushed by garbage trucks and sorting equipment at waste facilities. Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 For much of Wednesday’s workout, the Ravens defense crushed the Commanders, capitalizing on Washington’s inexperience at center and right guard. Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Tracee Ellis Ross favors Udi’s gluten-free bread topped with smashed avocado, lemon juice, crushed red pepper and salt as an afternoon snack, according to a People food diary. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crushed
Adjective
  • All of us artists could stand to be more like Mark, willing to speak out for oppressed people everywhere, even when powerful people try to bully us into silence.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Ella is a young woman cursed to obey all instructions whose quest for self-determination also turns her into an advocate for the kingdom’s oppressed elves and ogres.
    Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • It must also be mashed, distilled, and aged in the United States.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Recipe Tips for Chocolate Banana Bread Use ripe bananas that can be easily mashed.
    Torie Cox, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • When women tried to march for their rights, they were violently suppressed, and by 2023, nearly all those in Afghan jails were political prisoners, and many were tortured.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Hong Kong's independent bookstores, many of them tucked away from busy streets inside buildings, have long offered a refuge and a window to a freer world for some mainland Chinese readers seeking ideas suppressed at home.
    KANIS LEUNG, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The team's official drumline, The Pack, pounded on illuminated drums during quarter breaks, while Skye, the team's sassy, blue-haired lioness mascot, jumped onto the T-shirt cannon to launch souvenir merchandise high into stadium seats.
    Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Rodriguez pounded the strike zone, issuing his only walk in the sixth inning.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Reflecting on her journey, Jones told me last year that her best career advice is to stay open to new experiences and not get overwhelmed by distant goals.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • My mother was never one for parting phrases, mainly because she was overwhelmed by a form of timidity that verged on self-erasure.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • America’s aging farmers have been holding on to machinery for longer than usual as low crop prices and rising costs squeezed their finances.
    Bloomberg, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Officials said the bears appeared to have squeezed through a 1-foot-wide opening in the concrete structure (likely seeking water during hot, humid weather) and then couldn’t get back out.
    Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Runs up the middle were often stuffed at the line, at least three of Daniels’ pass attempts were batted away and three others were dropped.
    Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • On a recent afternoon, the lanky, mustachioed Zucker, wearing a T-shirt, ballcap and small hoop earrings, bears little resemblance to his comic alter ego who sports a tattered suit with gag props stuffed in every pocket.
    Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The beach is the stuff of postcards and paintings, hugged by cliffs with improbably radiant aquamarine water and a giant conical rock formation right in the middle of the bay.
    Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The dynamic duo giggled and hugged as curious onlookers took out their iPhones and started snapping away.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Crushed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crushed. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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