high-pressure 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhī-ˈpre-shər How to pronounce high-pressure (audio)
Definition of high-pressurenext
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal a high-pressure salesman who wouldn't take "no" for an answer "for a limited time only" and other standbys of high-pressure advertising

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

high-pressure

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to merchandise

Related Words
2
as in to threaten

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of high-pressure
Adjective
But the high-pressure system weakened this weekend as a trough of cold air dove in from the north Pacific and interacted with a nearby area of low pressure. — Tyler Ory, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026 Antosh recommends checking with a doctor before using a high-pressure bidet right after childbirth or with genital ulcers, since powerful streams can irritate healing tissue. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
Some entrepreneurs might slow down after 25 years in the high-pressure restaurant business. — Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026 The integrated approach also reduces cognitive load on soldiers operating in high-pressure battlefield environments while maintaining continuous protection against incoming drone threats across formations. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high-pressure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-pressure
  1. aggressive
  2. merchandise
  3. threaten
  4. ambitious
  5. market
  6. blackmail
  7. fierce
  8. wholesale
Adjective
  • Andersen in particular has struggled with such an aggressive role, where recovery pace and stomping channel defending are required to keep the shape.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Brown has two catches that converted third downs into firsts, providing a release valve against some aggressive Seahawks blitzes.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Verb
  • The merchandising giant Fanatics launched a 21+ prediction platform last year.
    — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In fact, the team’s estimate for the film’s end budget, after merchandising costs and fees, is essentially the same as one first-season episode of a half-hour comedy on a streaming network.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of merchandise
Verb
  • The euro zone, a net importer of energy, has seen inflation above the ECB's 2% target since the war in the Middle East threatened commodity transit through the Strait of Hormuz, causing oil prices to spike and remain volatile.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Anthem aims to give US forces a way to threaten those targets during extended operations.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of threaten
Adjective
  • Officials called the dedication the first step in an ambitious process to improve the Tennessee airport near Parton’s final resting place.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The staff’s efforts hit an impasse just as the office romance between Ned (Domhnall Gleeson), the paper’s by-the-book editor in chief, and Mare (Chelsea Frei), one of the few competent and ambitious reporters on staff, becomes a stress point.
    — Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of ambitious
Verb
  • Only time, or how aggressively Apple plans to market its Duo, will tell.
    — Stevie Bonifield, The Verge, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Universal spent $115 million to produce it and $80 million to market the action drama.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of market
Verb
  • Assassination-for-hire is the tragicomic domain of people looking for someone to kill a spouse or a rival but getting blackmailed by teenagers pretending to be hit men in the process.
    — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Petersen said at the time that the city was giving in to blackmail from the business community.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of blackmail
Adjective
  • Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway owns BNSF, and the railroad is a fierce critic of Vena’s takeover bid for Norfolk Southern.
    — John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Aaron Donald, one of the fiercest pass rushers in NFL history, is coming out of retirement to rejoin the Rams in hopes of winning another Super Bowl title.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of fierce
Verb
  • The company doesn’t wholesale its collection.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
  • Light industrial uses could include storage yards, data and information processing, medical or dental laboratories, research and development, warehouses, wholesaling or a recycling center.
    — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of wholesale

Browse Nearby Words

high-powered
high-pressure
high-pressured
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High-pressure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-pressure. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of hobnob

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All