pressed 1 of 3

past tense of press

pressed

2 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of press
1
2
as in crushed
to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of my family will only drink juice from freshly pressed oranges

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in pushed
to force one's way we continued to press deeper and deeper into the tangled rain forest

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
7

pressed

3 of 3

adjective

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 pressed
Verb
But New York will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs with second-year stud WR Malik Nabers out for the season due to a torn ACL. Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 The feet remained pressed against her seat for hours. Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025 The same goes for the highway—in fact, potential customers would be hard-pressed to find better in this department for the price offered. Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025 Position single leaves, either pressed or fresh, in small glass vases, and place them on various surfaces around the house. Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025 The oil is cold-pressed, so no heat or chemicals strip away its natural nutrients, which in turn deeply condition and soften strands. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 10 Sep. 2025 Partner would be hard-pressed to find a bid at the five-level, so double covers many hands. Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2025 If this becomes an annual event, the Chiefs and Battle Sports would be hard-pressed to find a better school to kick it off than Nebraska. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2025 On rainy days when people would stay in the building for lunch, one was hard-pressed to find a free seat in the cafeteria. Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The deal received Israeli government backing after Witkoff and Kushner pressed Netanyahu’s cabinet to accept it during a presentation earlier this month. Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025 The bread was perfectly toasted and pressed, the ingredients were balanced and the sandwich itself was nearly the size of my head. Sofia Distefano, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2025 The fear grew when her 1-year-old boy's belly started to distend and his ribs were pressed against his skin. Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Oct. 2025 In recent years, lawmakers, environmentalists, consumer advocates and California’s former top insurance regulator have pressed insurers to divest from fossil fuel companies and phase out writing coverage for oil wells, coal mines and other extraction projects. Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025 But when pressed to respond to CNN’s initial inquiry about the controversy over the post – and its far-right connotations – McLaughlin did not respond. Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025 Scott Derrickson has finally pressed the redial button. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025 The facility was basic but clean, and dogs pressed themselves against the metal grates at the front of the kennels, eager for attention. Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2025 Spanberger never responded to Earle-Sears’ taunts and dodged when moderators pressed her about whether Jones should drop out. Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressed
Adjective
  • Her 2022 Cabernet Franc is garnet colored in the glass and has sultry aromas of crushed violet petal, bell pepper, pencil lead, ripe cherry, and dark chocolate.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
  • That material comes from sand, crushed brick and recycled glass, all locally sourced.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • China’s military has unveiled a combat drone converted from a Soviet–era fighter jet, a development that could enable massed drone attacks in any future conflict over Taiwan.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressed. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on pressed

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!