Synonyms of crushing

crushing 1 of 2

adjective

as in overwhelming

Related Words

• overwhelming
• painful
• unacceptable
• unbearable
• uncomfortable
• harsh
• insufferable
• intolerable
• intense
• horrid
• gruesome
• shocking
• terrible
• appalling
• horrifying
• horrible
• hard
• extreme
• nightmarish
• vile
• sickening
• dreadful
• excruciating
• harrowing
• acute
• horrendous
• tormenting
• revolting
• unendurable
• insupportable
• torturous
• repulsive
• disgusting
• offensive
• unsupportable
• wretched
• piercing
• obnoxious
• loathsome
• unspeakable
• repugnant
• heinous
• comfortless
• odious
• nauseating
• noxious
• distasteful

Dissimilar Words

• sustainable
• tolerable
• acceptable
• endurable
• sufferable
• adequate
• satisfactory
• livable
• supportable
• allowable
• reasonable
• admissible

crushing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of crush

1

as in mashing

to cause to become a pulpy mass

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mashing
• squeezing
• squashing
• pressing
• pulping
• pounding
• beating
• pulverizing
• powdering

2

as in quelling

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

• quelling
• suppressing
• subduing
• repressing
• squashing
• silencing
• quashing
• destroying
• overcoming
• sitting on
• stifling
• extinguishing
• squelching
• cracking down (on)
• demolishing
• clamping down (on)
• slapping down
• throttling
• wrecking
• quenching
• obliterating
• decimating
• strangling
• putting down
• smothering
• smashing
• devastating
• annihilating
• snuffing (out)
• ruining
• dominating
• conquering
• wasting
• exterminating
• subjugating
• dousing
• vanquishing
• wiping out
• overwhelming
• overpowering
• putting out
• nuking
• desolating
• rubbing out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• supporting
• assisting
• helping
• aiding
• backing
• stirring
• abetting
• provoking
• inciting
• promoting
• whipping (up)
• advancing
• encouraging
• cultivating
• propping up
• fostering
• furthering
• fomenting
• forwarding
• instigating
• nurturing
• nourishing

3

as in grinding

to reduce to fine particles

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grinding
• pounding
• beating
• disintegrating
• pulverizing
• crumbling
• milling
• powdering
• smashing
• comminuting
• atomizing
• braying
• mulling
• shattering
• grating
• fracturing
• breaking
• crunching
• fragmenting
• splintering
• busting
• dashing
• kibbling
• micronizing

4

as in devastating

to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress

the terrible news of her death simply crushed the entire family

Synonyms & Similar Words

• devastating
• overcoming
• overwhelming
• oppressing
• grinding (down)
• swamping
• overpowering
• rocking
• prostrating
• overmastering
• drowning
• disturbing
• flooring
• defeating
• shattering
• whelming
• sinking
• snowing under
• throwing
• upsetting
• refuting
• distressing
• staggering
• deluging
• demoralizing
• breaking
• unnerving
• confuting
• unmanning

5

as in squeezing

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

• squeezing
• mashing
• pressing
• expressing
• extracting
• reaming
• pulping
• extruding
• pureeing

6

as in cramming

to fit (people or things) into a tight space

the desperate refugees were crushed into the back of the truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

• squeezing
• cramming
• loading
• wedging
• jamming
• packing
• ramming
• sandwiching
• crowding
• stuffing
• filling
• shoehorning
• heaping
• jam-packing

7

as in hugging

to put one's arms around and press tightly

she tearfully crushed the child to her breast

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hugging
• clasping
• clinging
• cradling
• embracing
• grabbing
• grasping
• holding
• straining
• wrapping
• enfolding
• bear-hugging
• clamping
• enclasping
• gripping
• patting
• encircling
• enveloping
• locking
• folding
• snuggling
• stroking
• entwining
• bosoming
• embosoming
• cuddling
• twining
• petting
• nuzzling
• fondling
• nestling
• enwinding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of crushing

Adjective

And that makes his collapse all the more crushing. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026

Even the laughs and smiles that Joe and Kate Keller issue are fleeting, a respite from the journey toward a more crushing reality. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026

Verb

Per the Season 4 logline, Dwight (Stallone) fights to legitimize his empire and protect his crew as corrupt politicians, dangerous new enemies, and a crushing personal loss hit from every direction. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2026

Boston is likely to start two left-handers in the series, and the Yankees will surely want to deploy lefty-crushing outfielder Heliot Ramos in both games. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

The night started promisingly with Brunson crushing his monologue, aided by the energy of the crowd and his fellow Knicks Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart making an early appearance. — Rima Parikh, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2026

The Miami Hurricanes closed out their first month of the season with another blowout, crushing Central Michigan, 52-3. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 27 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, local Church leaders hope the pope's visit will repair the Church's standing after a crushing 2021 report found that some 330,000 French children had been abused by Catholic clergy and lay leaders over seven decades. — Joshua McElwee, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026

During assembly or disassembly, the frame can fall, posing risks of impact, crushing and lacerations to customers, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 25 Sep. 2026

Not long after crushing the competition and headlining a show at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, the chicken catcher–turned–country star released his album Long Ride in 2010. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026

Merz quashed talk within the press and his own party about his possible resignation despite Sunday's losses for his party just two weeks after a crushing defeat in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. — Esme Nicholson, NPR, 21 Sep. 2026