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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
2
as in suppressed
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 pounded
to reduce to fine particles
crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in overwhelmed
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
the terrible news of her death simply crushed the entire family
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
6
as in stuffed
to fit (people or things) into a tight space
the desperate refugees were crushed into the back of the truck
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in hugged
to put one's arms around and press tightly
she tearfully crushed the child to her breast
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
Add some crunch with crushed tortilla chips.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
For her shopping spree, the fashion and beauty mogul layered the vintage outerwear over a taupe corset rendered in crushed velvet.
—Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 3 Jan. 2026
Add crushed and diced tomatoes, return sausage to the skillet.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 22 Dec. 2025
Flavors of peach and nectarine merge with notes of crushed rose petal and a hint of salinity that lingers into the brilliant finish.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2025
But what stands out is the hurt that rests in their eyes, informed by the agony in their crushed hearts.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, fast food giant SONIC launched a Peppermint Brownie Bark Shake in the last few months, offering customers a seasonal dessert that is described as a decadent blend of creamy vanilla soft serve with chocolate chunk brownie pieces and a sprinkle of cool, crushed peppermints.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Poppy is absolutely crushed but says nothing in response.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
The crinkly trend is set to be one of this year's most divisive, with the likes of Calvin Klein, Boss, Loewe, and Chanel all presenting various pieces that appear unironed, crushed, or simply a little undone.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
And on top of all that, your photos could be damaged if the shoebox gets crushed.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
And each was eventually crushed.
—CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Carneiro crushed a 58-yarder shortly before half to cut the Hurricanes’ lead to 17-13.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
But that didn’t happen, and things reverted to normal with dissent crushed and an ever-widening gulf between the government and its subjects.
—Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
And Johnson can’t erase the imagery of poor Cleveland Browns rookie defensive tackle Mason Graham, a top-5 pick, bursting through the B-gap at the snap only to be crushed by guard Jonah Jackson.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Prepare an Easy Pasta Sauce Combine a large can of crushed tomatoes, a large can of tomato paste, and a few tablespoons of this seasoning blend.
—Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
Add some crunch with crushed tortilla chips.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
For her shopping spree, the fashion and beauty mogul layered the vintage outerwear over a taupe corset rendered in crushed velvet.
—Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 3 Jan. 2026
Add crushed and diced tomatoes, return sausage to the skillet.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 22 Dec. 2025
Flavors of peach and nectarine merge with notes of crushed rose petal and a hint of salinity that lingers into the brilliant finish.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2025
But what stands out is the hurt that rests in their eyes, informed by the agony in their crushed hearts.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, fast food giant SONIC launched a Peppermint Brownie Bark Shake in the last few months, offering customers a seasonal dessert that is described as a decadent blend of creamy vanilla soft serve with chocolate chunk brownie pieces and a sprinkle of cool, crushed peppermints.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
Verb
On the ensuing drive, Herbert was crushed by K’Lavon Chaisson, resulting in a fumble recovered by Christian Elliss, as the Gillette Stadium crowd went ballistic.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Poppy is absolutely crushed but says nothing in response.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
The crinkly trend is set to be one of this year's most divisive, with the likes of Calvin Klein, Boss, Loewe, and Chanel all presenting various pieces that appear unironed, crushed, or simply a little undone.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
And on top of all that, your photos could be damaged if the shoebox gets crushed.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2026
And each was eventually crushed.
—CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Carneiro crushed a 58-yarder shortly before half to cut the Hurricanes’ lead to 17-13.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
But that didn’t happen, and things reverted to normal with dissent crushed and an ever-widening gulf between the government and its subjects.
—Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
And Johnson can’t erase the imagery of poor Cleveland Browns rookie defensive tackle Mason Graham, a top-5 pick, bursting through the B-gap at the snap only to be crushed by guard Jonah Jackson.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crushed
Adjective
-
In 2017, a Radio Free Asia reporter named Shohret Hoshur broke the story that the Chinese government was holding members of the fiercely oppressed Uyghur minority in concentration camps in Xinjiang.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
-
So bringing something that’s a little edgier and a little darker feels like the way theater should go, and usually goes when people feel oppressed.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a medium bowl mash half the beans with a potato masher or pastry blender until well mashed.—
Holly Riordan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Butter, cream, and sour cream are mashed into the potatoes before being dressed up with bacon, scallions, salt, pepper, and lots of cheese.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There have been protests before that have been just brutally suppressed.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Ukraine’s air defense system destroyed or suppressed 226 drones, 10 cruise missiles and 8 ballistic missiles.—
Morgan Winsor,
ABC News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Celtics pounded the paint with Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, a pair of bruising bigs who also can force the issue from 3-point range despite their lumbering dispositions.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Trump seems to have arrived, on his own, at the same understanding of geography and politics that was pounded into the heads of Soviet schoolchildren, including Putin and me.—
M. Gessen,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Those bold trunks of synapses, instead of the sleek connections most people have, mean that Kaylie can be overwhelmed by the flood of input coming her way.—
Becky Quick,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Indiana overwhelmed Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl as Mendoza passed for 192 yards and three touchdowns.—
Charles Odum,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At one point, the fear that squeezed my stomach tighter and tighter gave way to stupefaction.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Even if those increases eventually unwind, the impact will fall on households that have already been squeezed for decades, and many households are no longer assuming prices will fall back—they’ve been burned too often.—
Gene Ludwig,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
It’s stuffed with a cushy combination of down feathers and polyfiber fill, then wrapped up in lush velvet upholstery.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Even the hospitality of sending food home with them was taken away from me, as their refrigerator and freezer was stuffed from their prior parties.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After Beck’s winning TD an assistant coach on the sideline hugged Cristobal from behind but the head coach broke free and wanted none if that -- because Ole Miss and gifted QB Trinidad Chambliss had the ball left without about a half-minute left.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
After taking the 27-24 lead, an assistant went up to the head coach and hugged him from behind while smiling from ear to ear.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crushed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crushed. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
