Synonyms of crushes

crushes 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of crush

1

as in mashes

to cause to become a pulpy mass

dark-colored grapes that will be crushed to make red wine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mashes
• squeezes
• squashes
• presses
• pulps
• pulverizes
• beats
• pounds
• powders

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

• suppresses
• quells
• subdues
• represses
• squashes
• destroys
• silences
• stifles
• overcomes
• sits on
• quashes
• extinguishes
• squelches
• snuffs (out)
• clamps down (on)
• demolishes
• cracks down (on)
• slaps down
• obliterates
• throttles
• annihilates
• quenches
• puts down
• decimates
• smothers
• smashes
• dominates
• conquers
• ruins
• strangles
• vanquishes
• wrecks
• exterminates
• overwhelms
• subjugates
• devastates
• wastes
• wipes out
• overpowers
• douses
• puts out
• nukes
• desolates
• rubs out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• supports
• helps
• aids
• assists
• backs
• provokes
• abets
• stirs
• incites
• encourages
• instigates
• promotes
• advances
• whips (up)
• fosters
• cultivates
• nurtures
• nourishes
• props up
• foments
• furthers
• forwards

3

as in grinds

to reduce to fine particles

crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grinds
• pounds
• beats
• disintegrates
• pulverizes
• crumbles
• mills
• smashes
• powders
• atomizes
• brays
• mulls
• shatters
• grates
• comminutes
• fractures
• breaks
• fragments
• crunches
• kibbles
• busts
• splinters
• dashes
• micronizes

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

• overwhelms
• overcomes
• devastates
• oppresses
• overpowers
• rocks
• grinds (down)
• whelms
• prostrates
• floors
• disturbs
• drowns
• swamps
• overmasters
• defeats
• shatters
• snows under
• sinks
• upsets
• refutes
• throws
• deluges
• distresses
• confutes
• demoralizes
• staggers
• unnerves
• unmans
• breaks

5

as in squeezes

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

• squeezes
• mashes
• presses
• expresses
• extracts
• reams
• extrudes
• pulps
• purees

6

as in stuffs

to fit (people or things) into a tight space

the desperate refugees were crushed into the back of the truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

• squeezes
• stuffs
• crams
• loads
• sandwiches
• wedges
• rams
• jams
• shoehorns
• packs
• crowds
• fills
• heaps
• jam-packs

7

as in hugs

to put one's arms around and press tightly

she tearfully crushed the child to her breast

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hugs
• clasps
• clings
• cradles
• embraces
• grabs
• grasps
• enfolds
• holds
• wraps
• bear-hugs
• enclasps
• strains
• clamps
• pats
• envelops
• snuggles
• grips
• encircles
• entwines
• locks
• folds
• nuzzles
• fondles
• embosoms
• cuddles
• twines
• strokes
• bosoms
• nestles
• enwinds
• pets

crushes

2 of 2

noun

plural of crush

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

• passions
• mashes
• infatuations
• obsessions
• loves
• rages
• affections
• fixations
• devotions
• crazes
• fads
• vogues

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

• swarms
• throngs
• hordes
• flocks
• masses
• crowds
• multitudes
• legions
• presses
• masses
• routs
• armies
• bikes
• crams
• mobs
• millions
• hosts
• herds
• droves
• rabbles
• piles
• riffraffs
• rabblements
• gaggles
• scrums
• heaps
• mountains
• jams
• logjams

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of crushes

Verb

Katie Ledecky crushes the world record in the 1,500 freestyle for her second gold medal at the world swimming championships in Barcelona, Spain. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

While this motion typically crushes or warps regular sneakers, these shoes bounce right back into their original shape, damage-free. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026

As a symbol for the movie’s complex duality, Damon crushes his role. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 July 2026

Every minute that a kid sits bored in a classroom crushes their desire. — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

This mandate creates an environment that crushes most of the students it is intended to develop. — Scott White, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

For someone already carrying that kind of low-grade worry, a surprise $4,000 surgery bill is the type of shock that crushes a stable-looking budget. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 22 June 2026

An Ice Shaver crushes ice into a snow-like texture for slushies, snow cones or cold drinks. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026

Lady Gaga, crushes, Tom Cruise, and movie theaters — the through-line for this week is obsession. — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 15 May 2026

Noun

Life’s biggest challenges were saving up for a treehouse, holding seances in a cemetery, navigating first crushes and hard family situations, and, of course, simply growing up. — Sarah Scott, Parents, 14 July 2026

Early in the month, your dating life takes an unpredictable turn, allowing room for sudden crushes, chemistry or a casual fling that turns out to be complicated. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026

Tony Shalhoub was another one of my big crushes, so sometimes Tony Shalhoub. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026

In between languid lake swims and sensual forest escapades, old crushes surface and new anxieties rear their heads in this deft portrait of millennial disenchantment. — Air Mail, 20 June 2026

The boys and girls wind up living across the hall from each other, and crushes and interpersonal drama bring them from frenemies to enemies and back again. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 2 June 2026

The friend group quickly forms a complex web of crushes that expand the love triangle to new frontiers of geometry. — Alison Herman, Variety, 2 June 2026

No more crushes, no more secret pacts. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 27 May 2026

Being single is the time for trying out new things and having crushes. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 May 2026