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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
The first day of what is expected to be the biggest World Cup in women’s cricket history saw the spotlight shift away from Ben Stokes and a West End nightclub to a West End musical and a crushing victory for an England side aiming for this to be their Lionesses or Red Roses moment.
—Paul Newman, New York Times, 13 June 2026
Inland Empire cities in the path of the notorious San Andreas fault haven’t ordered the retrofit or demolition of old brick buildings, which could rain debris capable of crushing pedestrians, cars and buses with deadly force onto sidewalks and streets during shaking.
—Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
The complaint alleges Hickey was walking along a spectator pathway outside the arena fence when Party Bus suddenly jumped into the crowd and landed on top of her, knocking Hickey to the ground and crushing her right shoulder and right calf.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
To Palczewski, the wait from the crushing end of Denver’s 2025 season to hearing a deal was on the table felt long enough.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 10 June 2026
In combat aviation, fighter and ISR crews operating in dense threat environments often face crushing cognitive loads managing all aspects of flight but also rapidly evolving tactical pictures.
—Tim Burns, Fortune, 9 June 2026
That legacy includes crushing both hyperinflation and the Maoist insurgents of the Shining Path, who bathed Peru in blood in the 1980s and 1990s.
—Simeon Tegel, NPR, 6 June 2026
Fresh off crushing a home run, this athlete sprinted straight onto a running track still in uniform … just in time for another race.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 4 June 2026
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
Housing is too expensive, gas is at $5 a gallon, and student debt is crushing an entire generation of young people.
—Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
The first day of what is expected to be the biggest World Cup in women’s cricket history saw the spotlight shift away from Ben Stokes and a West End nightclub to a West End musical and a crushing victory for an England side aiming for this to be their Lionesses or Red Roses moment.
—Paul Newman, New York Times, 13 June 2026
Inland Empire cities in the path of the notorious San Andreas fault haven’t ordered the retrofit or demolition of old brick buildings, which could rain debris capable of crushing pedestrians, cars and buses with deadly force onto sidewalks and streets during shaking.
—Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
The complaint alleges Hickey was walking along a spectator pathway outside the arena fence when Party Bus suddenly jumped into the crowd and landed on top of her, knocking Hickey to the ground and crushing her right shoulder and right calf.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
To Palczewski, the wait from the crushing end of Denver’s 2025 season to hearing a deal was on the table felt long enough.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 10 June 2026
In combat aviation, fighter and ISR crews operating in dense threat environments often face crushing cognitive loads managing all aspects of flight but also rapidly evolving tactical pictures.
—Tim Burns, Fortune, 9 June 2026
That legacy includes crushing both hyperinflation and the Maoist insurgents of the Shining Path, who bathed Peru in blood in the 1980s and 1990s.
—Simeon Tegel, NPR, 6 June 2026
Fresh off crushing a home run, this athlete sprinted straight onto a running track still in uniform … just in time for another race.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crushing
Adjective
-
Consider the overwhelming scenes of thousands of Argentines in Mill Creek Park and the Crossroads Arts District on Monday night, the greeting for the English team at Swope Park and the Netherlands in Riverside and beyond.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
-
Her grief may be overwhelming and making her current situation even worse.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
More often, the series borrows from the overall feeling of Dippold’s inspirations, mashing up and remixing the obsessions of a lifelong horror fan.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
-
Severance star Zach Cherry hit the Deadline Studio at SXSW London this week with director Jason James to discuss genre-mashing romcom-thriller-noir All Night Wrong which premiered at the festival.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The mosquitoes came out in droves at night, just before bed, quelling our ambitions of stargazing or watching for the northern lights.—
John Bowe,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
-
Owens, who tried to reach third, was gunned down by left fielder Brendan Brock, quelling the early threat.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The boys were grinding today, my goodness.—
Mark Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Antonelli had actually just managed to pass Russell on track on lap 61 before grinding to a halt a lap later.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
Verb
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But Saeta, which has been outfitting the team since coming to its rescue after the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake, has been struggling to keep up with demands, creating an opening for designers and other vendors selling unofficial merchandise.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
-
The British government refused to subsidize food prices or restrict exports of Irish agricultural goods, further devastating the island.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
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County officials pointed to state budget cuts and a $276,000 drop in liquor revenue as factors squeezing finances.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
18 June 2026
-
Grip the handles on the sides of the machine, tighten your core, and extend your legs, squeezing your quadriceps (top thigh muscles) at the top.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
At their core, Rush were always about glorious musical excess, routinely cramming more riffs and time signatures into single songs than some bands managed on entire albums.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
10 June 2026
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The two stayed up late into the night Monday, cramming information on each candidate.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The train continues south to Christchurch, hugging the craggy coast.—
Steve Madgwick,
Travel + Leisure,
18 June 2026
-
His psychedelic paintings, sometimes painted in the style of Russian Orthodox icons, often depicted Putin with a bovine nose or hugging pigs.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crushing. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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