as in seized
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
the fleeing bank robber pressed a nearby taxi into service as a getaway car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in shoved
to push steadily against with some force
an old doorbell that requires you to press the button hard
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in huddled
to gather into a closely packed group
everyone pressed around me to see the pictures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in compelled
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
a manager pressed by a business crisis to return from his vacation ahead of schedule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in urged
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
pressed us to go with them to the school board meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in highlighted
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
an office e-mail that presses the need for greater vigilance concerning building security
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in squeezed
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of pressed
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
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressed. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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