as in overwhelming
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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
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6
as in cramming
to fit (people or things) into a tight space
the desperate refugees were crushed into the back of the truck
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7
as in hugging
to put one's arms around and press tightly
she tearfully crushed the child to her breast
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crushing
Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
It was led by Yoshiko Noda, a staid veteran politician, who briefly served as an undistinguished prime minister in 2012 and led his party to a crushing defeat at the hands of Shinzo Abe and the LDP.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 15 Feb. 2026
Armstrong has recommended limiting the company to four one-week periods a year for crushing, and requiring it to meet with commissioners after the first year to evaluate any concerns.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
The Broncos suffered the kind of spirit-crushing defeat on Friday that had fans almost certain of the game result before the final buzzer sounded.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
Ilia Malinin’s collapse underscores the crushing psychological pressure of Olympic competition, which can turn childhood dreams into nightmares, even for elite athletes.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Your brain treats heartbreak like a physical injury That crushing feeling in your chest isn’t imaginary.
—Kyra Dahring, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Compounding the crushing disappointment was Dennis Hamlin’s declining health back home in Stanley, North Carolina.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2026
Not in crushing debt, but in rejecting American culture’s pervasive backward slide into premodern flimflam.
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
Safeguarding athletes But what about junior- and novice-level skaters, including those not even teenagers yet, who may get to revel in the soaring highs of hearing a good score but must also suffer through the soul-crushing lows of hearing a poor one?
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
It was led by Yoshiko Noda, a staid veteran politician, who briefly served as an undistinguished prime minister in 2012 and led his party to a crushing defeat at the hands of Shinzo Abe and the LDP.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 15 Feb. 2026
Armstrong has recommended limiting the company to four one-week periods a year for crushing, and requiring it to meet with commissioners after the first year to evaluate any concerns.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
The Broncos suffered the kind of spirit-crushing defeat on Friday that had fans almost certain of the game result before the final buzzer sounded.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
Ilia Malinin’s collapse underscores the crushing psychological pressure of Olympic competition, which can turn childhood dreams into nightmares, even for elite athletes.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Your brain treats heartbreak like a physical injury That crushing feeling in your chest isn’t imaginary.
—Kyra Dahring, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Compounding the crushing disappointment was Dennis Hamlin’s declining health back home in Stanley, North Carolina.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2026
Not in crushing debt, but in rejecting American culture’s pervasive backward slide into premodern flimflam.
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crushing
Adjective
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Iran used overwhelming force against the protesters to clear people out of the streets, but also to buy the government time by preventing any future waves of unrest, said Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, a Washington think tank.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
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Another warning sign that often flies under the radar is profound fatigue—an overwhelming tiredness that doesn’t go away with rest (something that many of us are quick to dismiss).—
Jennifer Shanker,
Flow Space,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Finely grating the eggs and mashing everything together creates a smooth texture.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
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For even more intense banana flavor, our Test Kitchen recommends roasting your bananas in their skins for 15 minutes in a 350ºF oven before peeling and mashing them.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In a statement broadcast by state TV, a security force known for quelling unrest accused terrorists of targeting military and law enforcement bases over the past two nights.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
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This potency can be a good thing for quelling inflammation—but also calls for caution.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Russia currently controls around 20% of Ukrainian land, but over almost four years of grinding war, those territorial gains are thought to have cost Russia over a million casualties.—
Holly Williams,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
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This week, the optimism of spring has given way to the grinding reality of the sport, all before teams conducted their first workouts.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Bass, politically bruised over her handling of last year’s devastating Palisades fire, now faces an insurgent campaign from one of the City Council’s savviest players.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
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The front lobby of Unicoi County Hospital was wrecked by devastating flooding during Hurricane Helene in 2024.—
Brett Kelman,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The fall was aided by the cooling prices of gasoline, eggs, and beef, but rising costs for consumer goods like apparel, computers, and airfares suggest tariffs are still squeezing household budgets.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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Instead, 2026 is about building both stylish and sensible outfits that can take you from the airport to the streets with maximum versatility without ever squeezing into tight, form-fitting fabric.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Each story unfolds at a rapid pace, bouncing between provocative shots of eccentric people and cramming two distinct sets of warring neighbors into each half-hour episode.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
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With the current contact period, during which coaches can visit recruits, ending Saturday and the following period not starting until mid-April, his team was busy booking charter flights and cramming seven days' worth of visits into four or five days.—
Doug Gollan,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Teammates on the bench hung their heads in unplanned unison, while others began hugging Svensson Traff.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
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That’s when horizon-hugging planets like Venus will stay up longer.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crushing. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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