Synonyms of pressed

pressed 1 of 3

adjective

as in squeezed

Related Words

• squeezed
• crushed
• massed
• jammed
• crammed
• packed
• overcrowded
• compressed
• dense
• airtight
• wall-to-wall
• compacted
• crowded
• close
• compact
• thick
• serried
• tight
• snug
• condensed
• congested
• solid
• firm
• impervious
• hard
• impermeable
• jam-packed
• impenetrable

Dissimilar Words

• open
• loose
• airy
• spacious
• uncrowded
• commodious
• roomy

pressed

2 of 3

verb (1)

past tense of press

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

• seized
• grabbed
• confiscated
• occupied
• converted
• claimed
• stole
• usurped
• appropriated
• preempted
• commandeered
• annexed
• snatched
• invaded
• assumed
• pirated
• arrogated
• took over
• attached
• expropriated
• looted
• grasped
• sequestered
• wrenched
• impounded
• preoccupied
• pillaged
• encroached
• repossessed
• despoiled
• collared
• trespassed
• infringed
• wrested
• misapplied
• embezzled
• misused
• peculated
• misappropriated

pressed

3 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of press

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

• shoved
• compressed
• punched
• squeezed
• depressed
• weighed (on or upon)
• bore (down on)
• forced
• compelled
• stuffed
• pressured
• mashed
• thrust
• jammed
• squashed
• squished
• propelled
• muscled
• squooshed
• wedged
• crushed
• leaned (on or against)
• packed
• compacted
• constricted
• drove
• condensed
• contracted
• wrung
• scrunched
• crammed
• jam-packed

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

• squeezed
• crushed
• mashed
• expressed
• extracted
• reamed
• extruded
• pulped
• pureed

3

as in huddled

to gather into a closely packed group

everyone pressed around me to see the pictures

Synonyms & Similar Words

• huddled
• piled
• crowded
• bunched
• clustered
• assembled
• swarmed
• flocked
• surrounded
• hugged
• converged
• convened
• herded
• collected
• encircled
• thronged
• concentrated
• congregated
• mobbed
• forgathered
• concentered
• conglomerated
• embraced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dispersed
• split (up)
• disbanded
• broke up

4

as in pushed

to force one's way

we continued to press deeper and deeper into the tangled rain forest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pushed
• squeezed
• shoved
• jammed
• jostled
• crashed
• elbowed
• bored
• muscled
• shouldered
• thrust
• bulled
• bulldozed
• rammed

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

• compelled
• forced
• coerced
• obliged
• obligated
• pressured
• drove
• constrained
• impelled
• impressed
• muscled
• made
• dragooned
• blackjacked
• sandbagged
• intimidated
• blackmailed
• bullied
• threatened
• hectored
• dragged
• cowed
• badgered
• bulldozed
• twisted one's arm
• browbeat
• menaced
• shamed
• terrorized
• harassed
• hounded
• high-pressured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• let
• allowed
• permitted
• moved
• convinced
• argued
• induced
• satisfied
• won (over)
• persuaded
• talked (into)
• prevailed (on or upon)

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

• urged
• encouraged
• nudged
• prompted
• pushed
• prodded
• exhorted
• spurred
• goaded
• coaxed
• propelled
• egged (on)
• stimulated
• hurried
• drove
• rushed
• hustled
• implored
• pressured
• provoked
• beseeched
• importuned
• cajoled
• wheedled
• adjured
• needled
• nagged
• incited
• fomented
• instigated
• stirred (up)
• blandished
• soft-soaped
• high-pressured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discouraged
• deterred
• checked
• constrained
• dissuaded
• restrained
• inhibited
• held back
• braked
• curbed

7

as in emphasized

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

• emphasized
• highlighted
• stressed
• featured
• punctuated
• accented
• identified
• accentuated
• focused
• pointed (up)
• illuminated
• foregrounded
• played up
• promoted
• made much of
• bore down on
• advertised
• publicized
• spotlighted
• plugged
• pinpointed
• boosted
• overplayed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• played down
• minimized
• understated
• toned (down)
• de-emphasized
• discounted
• disparaged
• underemphasized
• belittled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pressed

Adjective

Anyone who had come to the Hill hoping to gain insights into the American-history museum’s actual philosophy or operations would have been hard-pressed to find them. — Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026

Food and drink You’ll be hard-pressed to find more atmospheric places to eat in Bloomsbury than at Ottie’s Salon. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 July 2026

Without that connection, Newsom would have been hard-pressed to begin what became a lucrative business career. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

With Spain’s elite defense controlling the pace, France will be hard-pressed to make a comeback in the final half-hour. — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026

The pressed setting powder smooths, blurs, and evens out mature skin. — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 6 July 2026

But most Americans would be hard-pressed to find it. — Dick Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026

Not all fashions from the Roman Empire stand up to present scrutiny—you’d be hard pressed to find a toga worn anywhere but a frat party, for instance. — Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 22 June 2026

In heat waves, Aid stations could be hard-pressed to manage everyone affected. — Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026

Verb

Lynn Horton ordered a caprese panini, pressed to be extra crunchy, with extra pesto, her husband enjoyed an eggplant caprese. — Sarah Kyrcz, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026

Berman also pressed his advantage as a first mover, borrowing capital from large financial firms that wanted to get into the market. — Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026

If Republicans pressed ahead with a potpourri of government spending to shore up shuttered agencies, vulnerable incumbents would have to endure two unlimited Senate vote-a-ramas. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 23 July 2026

On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was pressed to explain before the Senate what the United States had accomplished in its war with Iran. — Andrew Exum, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026

Few teams pressed high up the pitch, and even fewer were primarily defined by pressing. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Hegseth, who appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee to request an additional $67 billion in funding, was pressed by Democrats to be more transparent about the war's war's progress, goals, strategies and justifications. — Mary Bruce, ABC News, 22 July 2026

The players evolved during the game, controlled the final with style, pressed collectively, and repeatedly created chances before winning 1-0 in extra time. — Basel Tarab, STAT, 22 July 2026

When fruit is pressed, the fiber-rich flesh gets discarded, and what you’re left with is essentially sugar water with vitamins. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026