1
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in grinding
to reduce to fine particles
crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
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
7
as in hugging
to put one's arms around and press tightly
she tearfully crushed the child to her breast
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in overwhelming
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of crushing
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
The Age of Innocence actress recounted meeting De Palma and the casting director and crushing her first audition for the movie.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Svetlana’s optimistic pretend normalcy and Lyudmila’s practical approach to medication point to impossibility of fathoming the many crushing consequences of the Ukraine crisis.
—Nina Khrushcheva, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
The drop in the currency has been driven in part by concerns over Milei’s political support ahead of key midterm elections later this month following a crushing defeat in a local vote in Buenos Aires province in early September.
—Nicolle Yapur, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … FINAL COUNTDOWN – Diddy hit with crushing courtroom blow ahead of rapper's upcoming sentencing.
—FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
The second planet from the sun has a completely inhospitable surface, with temperatures reaching 863 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius) and a crushing pressure underneath an oppressively thick atmosphere.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Olive oil is a versatile fat that's created through the crushing, milling, and pressing of olives to extract their oil.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 1 Oct. 2025
Factor in, too, that Minnesota is at best a middling draw as a landing spot for UFAs, and losing its lone superstar at this moment would be a crushing blow.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Apparently, Grier forgot his own words, because the lines that the Dolphins have built are collectively their worst this decade, something evident in a crushing 27-24 loss to Carolina, a game in which Miami blew a 17-0 lead.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
The Age of Innocence actress recounted meeting De Palma and the casting director and crushing her first audition for the movie.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Svetlana’s optimistic pretend normalcy and Lyudmila’s practical approach to medication point to impossibility of fathoming the many crushing consequences of the Ukraine crisis.
—Nina Khrushcheva, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
The drop in the currency has been driven in part by concerns over Milei’s political support ahead of key midterm elections later this month following a crushing defeat in a local vote in Buenos Aires province in early September.
—Nicolle Yapur, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … FINAL COUNTDOWN – Diddy hit with crushing courtroom blow ahead of rapper's upcoming sentencing.
—FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
The second planet from the sun has a completely inhospitable surface, with temperatures reaching 863 degrees Fahrenheit (462 degrees Celsius) and a crushing pressure underneath an oppressively thick atmosphere.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Olive oil is a versatile fat that's created through the crushing, milling, and pressing of olives to extract their oil.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 1 Oct. 2025
Factor in, too, that Minnesota is at best a middling draw as a landing spot for UFAs, and losing its lone superstar at this moment would be a crushing blow.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crushing
Verb
-
The team’s active wRC+ leader is Refsnyder, who, like Gonzalez, is a platoon hitter capable of mashing lefties.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Both white beans and chickpeas have neutral flavors that meld well with oats, and mashing them up beforehand will make their texture almost unnoticeable.—
Audrey Bruno,
SELF,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Rather than quelling terrorist attacks, permanently suppressing Palestinian aspirations would likely fuel an endless insurgency.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Giddey also took a significant step toward quelling concerns about him as a shooter.—
Bobby Krivitsky,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The songwriting process for the album’s breakout hit started with the track’s grinding post-chorus breakdown, which Walter had created on a whim.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
1 Oct. 2025
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Stories like these have underscored the human dimension of a grinding war, where soldiers form bonds with animals in the trenches.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Not even a month had passed since his big sister, Toraya, was shot and killed at an apartment complex in New Jersey, devastating the Reid family and shaking the Timberwolves organization to its core.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Oil was discovered there in the 1920s, and the county went through booms and busts for decades, enriching wildcatters and devastating the landscape, until a lasting bust left Loving County a virtual wasteland with no running water, paved roads, schools, hospitals, or grocery stores.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But, to do you any good, squeezing the veins must propel the blood in the right direction, toward the heart.—
Bryant Stamford,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The earbuds are controlled by squeezing the stem.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Government funding has been appropriated this way for the past nine fiscal years, with Congress cramming 108 spending measures into 13 bills.—
Lazaro Gamio,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Instead of cramming it all into a tiny box, Robeta gave it a soft curtain enclosure that keeps the look minimal and the space functional.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After the screening, video circulated online of the True Blood alum, wearing a white Magliano T-shirt with an image of a boot hovering over a man's outstretched tongue, hugging Pascal and kissing him on the cheek while the cast received a standing ovation at the screening.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
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She was also seen hugging the Italian fashion designer and whispering into his ear.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Despite the overwhelming support for the new Gang Suppression Force, many questions remain, including the final costs, which countries will deploy troops, how soon the additional security forces will arrive and the role of the Kenyan troops.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
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But stars rely on overwhelming gravitational pressure to force their fusion.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crushing. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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