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

Consider each target wounded by crushing knockdowns and then killed by piggy-backers, irrespective of the quality of the quarter. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026

The writer compared the collapse of civil society to a boulder rolling downhill, crushing things in its path. — Kanis Leung, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Aug. 2026

At times, the frustration and crushing grief have nearly broken him. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

After flooding the courtyard, crushing vehicles and destroying part of one of the surrounding buildings, the liquid flowed into the buildings’ lower floors, where workers were holding morning meetings. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

This week’s death of Dolly Parton was a crushing reminder of the inevitable closing of another generation’s chapter. — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

The Sparks opened a three-game homestand and the first since Ogwumike’s retirement announcement with a crushing 124-88 loss to the Atlanta Dream. — Jordan Puente, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Hernandez is a grappler in the octagon who can unleash crushing blows with his fists, elbows and legs. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Earlier this week, Josh Bell stood in a quiet clubhouse after a crushing Minnesota Twins loss and spoke of hope. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026