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
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
Consider adding this pressed powder for mature skin and the fast-selling EltaMD sunscreen our team loves to your cart.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
Cakes should be evenly colored and springy when pressed with a finger.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2025
The two also shared a small kiss on the lips before Josh picked up the cake, turned it around to show the blue and pressed his face into it.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
The first was to use his ball-carrying to advance beyond opponents who pressed passively.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Taylor also personally pressed President Ronald Reagan to address the AIDS crisis publicly, helping to break the political silence surrounding the epidemic.
—Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2025
Others pressed about potential leaks, runoff and the chemicals used to keep water clean.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2025
Most vinyl is pressed overseas, industry experts said, with the largest manufacturer, GZ Media, based in the Czech Republic.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Whether pressed at home or purchased from a local juice bar, fresh juice packs serious vitamins and antioxidants.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
Consider adding this pressed powder for mature skin and the fast-selling EltaMD sunscreen our team loves to your cart.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
When pressed and held for three seconds, the Panic Button emits a signal to sound the siren on your Ring Alarm.
—PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
Cakes should be evenly colored and springy when pressed with a finger.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2025
The two also shared a small kiss on the lips before Josh picked up the cake, turned it around to show the blue and pressed his face into it.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
The first was to use his ball-carrying to advance beyond opponents who pressed passively.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Taylor also personally pressed President Ronald Reagan to address the AIDS crisis publicly, helping to break the political silence surrounding the epidemic.
—Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2025
Others pressed about potential leaks, runoff and the chemicals used to keep water clean.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2025
Most vinyl is pressed overseas, industry experts said, with the largest manufacturer, GZ Media, based in the Czech Republic.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Whether pressed at home or purchased from a local juice bar, fresh juice packs serious vitamins and antioxidants.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressed
Adjective
-
Billions of microbes are hard at work dissolving compounds in this giant mound of crushed ore from Escondida, the biggest copper mine on the planet.—
Vanessa Bates Ramirez,
Scientific American,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Embedded with crushed tourmaline, jade, obsidian, and amethyst, HealthyLine’s multitasking wellness device puts five types of tension-melting therapy at one’s fingertips.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
1 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 9 Oct. 2025.
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