1
2
as in suppresses
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 grinds
to reduce to fine particles
crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in overwhelms
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 hugs
to put one's arms around and press tightly
she tearfully crushed the child to her breast
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in passions
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
as in swarms
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crushes
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Because these drugs are so precious, new antibiotics are deliberately held in reserve to slow the emergence of resistance, a practice known as stewardship that benefits future patients but crushes commercial prospects.
—Henry Skinner, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026
Early voting crushes record in Texas Early voting in Texas smashed records.
—From Staff Reports, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
Or perhaps you will be filled with private thoughts, fantasies and crushes about someone.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Nvidia crushes earnings; Wall Street shrugs Nvidia delivered absolutely blockbuster results in the final three months of 2025, as demand for its AI chips went through the roof.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Behind her closed door, Bree takes out the data card with Lucy’s confession and crushes it with a stapler.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Layer on top of this the inescapable student-loan debt that crushes their spirit and bank accounts.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
While many of the Williams wannabes came from near and far, there were a few Caleb crushes in the crowd.
—Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
The world was first introduced to Saoirse-Monica Jackson as the awkward and expressive schoolgirl Erin Quinn in Derry Girls, navigating Troubles-era Northern Ireland and its conflict with the same fervor as her crushes, convent school, and cringe-inducing teenage chaos.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2026
Listening felt like being pulled into side chats with lots of different characters who were at precisely the right level of intoxication to reveal something interesting to you—crushes, anxieties, rivalries.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Elizabeth was principled and compassionate while Jessica was carefree, outgoing and manipulative, and their clashes and crushes became a welcome distraction.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
On the cusp of adolescence, Vincent starts questioning his identity, friendships and family, while experiencing his first crushes.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
The young boy then has to navigate being 10 and being bullied, having crushes on girls, all while older siblings Yvette (Essence Atkins) and Marcus (Jason Weaver) cringe at the thought of him being at the same high school.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Learn what dating looks like in different cultures, witness the devastation when crushes go sideways, and enjoy the redemption when couples rediscover their spark and move forward.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Jan. 2026
Having harbored secret crushes on each other at the time, the two might get a second chance at romance as they are reunited years later when Tyler crosses paths with Bode.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2025
Verb
Mike Tyson plays a space-cadet version of himself, but the show transcends the one-note premise with its smart deployment of sharp joke writing, stellar voice actors (including Norm Macdonald, who crushes as a pigeon with a drinking problem), and a heavy dose of metafiction.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Because these drugs are so precious, new antibiotics are deliberately held in reserve to slow the emergence of resistance, a practice known as stewardship that benefits future patients but crushes commercial prospects.
—Henry Skinner, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026
Early voting crushes record in Texas Early voting in Texas smashed records.
—From Staff Reports, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
Or perhaps you will be filled with private thoughts, fantasies and crushes about someone.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Nvidia crushes earnings; Wall Street shrugs Nvidia delivered absolutely blockbuster results in the final three months of 2025, as demand for its AI chips went through the roof.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Behind her closed door, Bree takes out the data card with Lucy’s confession and crushes it with a stapler.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Layer on top of this the inescapable student-loan debt that crushes their spirit and bank accounts.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2026
While many of the Williams wannabes came from near and far, there were a few Caleb crushes in the crowd.
—Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
From orange crushes to signature cocktails and even a running hot dog competition behind the bar, Section 771 pulls out all the stops for the season opener.
—Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
The world was first introduced to Saoirse-Monica Jackson as the awkward and expressive schoolgirl Erin Quinn in Derry Girls, navigating Troubles-era Northern Ireland and its conflict with the same fervor as her crushes, convent school, and cringe-inducing teenage chaos.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2026
Listening felt like being pulled into side chats with lots of different characters who were at precisely the right level of intoxication to reveal something interesting to you—crushes, anxieties, rivalries.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026
Elizabeth was principled and compassionate while Jessica was carefree, outgoing and manipulative, and their clashes and crushes became a welcome distraction.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
On the cusp of adolescence, Vincent starts questioning his identity, friendships and family, while experiencing his first crushes.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
The young boy then has to navigate being 10 and being bullied, having crushes on girls, all while older siblings Yvette (Essence Atkins) and Marcus (Jason Weaver) cringe at the thought of him being at the same high school.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Learn what dating looks like in different cultures, witness the devastation when crushes go sideways, and enjoy the redemption when couples rediscover their spark and move forward.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Jan. 2026
Having harbored secret crushes on each other at the time, the two might get a second chance at romance as they are reunited years later when Tyler crosses paths with Bode.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crushes
Verb
-
Set to John Philip Sousa military marches, the zany spectacle mashes up a night at the Moulin Rouge with a Busby Berkeley extravaganza.—
Rachel Howard,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Cheaper pruners use a blade and anvil — essentially one sharp blade that mashes the branch against a flat surface.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Blue light from screens suppresses melatonin by up to 80%, delaying sleep onset when viewed within an hour of bedtime and fragmenting deep sleep.—
John La Puma,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Blue light suppresses melatonin and makes falling back asleep significantly harder.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Then, just to flub any chance for enjoying some dumb fun with a skilled cast hamming it up, the sloppy story grinds the all-too-predictable, all-too-lame whodunit to a halt, as well.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
18 Mar. 2026
-
That has led to longer regular-season schedules followed by tougher tournament grinds, particularly for those without multi-round byes awarded to top seeds.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Driven by the Gaza conflict and a deepening generational divide, Democratic sympathy for Palestinians now overwhelms support for Israel, threatening a historic partisan realignment.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Cuarón clearly understood that the more extravagant choices can only function in the periphery of a sturdy emotional anchor, an actor with the gravitas to communicate the exasperation that Liborio feels in a reality that overwhelms him.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The pencil-thin DQ Tower squeezes a full home into a very slender footprint, while the EONE XL takes a wider prefab approach to the same basic challenge.—
Stefan Ionescu
March 30,
New Atlas,
30 Mar. 2026
-
There’s no end to the war in sight after one month as Iran squeezes the global economy.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The ribs and the brisket are the stars of the show, and the Ultimate BBQ Combo Sandwich stuffs a long hoagie roll with brisket, sausage, and pulled pork plus bacon, Cheddar, and pickles.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Kinney lovingly stuffs the view of the boat’s cabin and upper deck with props and details that reward the eye.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Lake County portion hugs the shoreline south to Lake Cook Road and continues west to the eastern part of Buffalo Grove.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
-
President Barack Obama hugs Shigeaki Mori at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial park cenotaph in Hiroshima on May 27, 2016.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Trueba family’s passions, struggles, and secrets span a century of violent social change, culminating in a crisis that hurls the proud, tyrannical patriarch and his beloved granddaughter towards opposite sides of the fence.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
-
His stronger inner passions were checked by an equally strong sense of restraint.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crushes. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
