as in urgent
needing immediate attention
she had pressing business on the other side of town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in seizing
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
1
as in shoving
to push steadily against with some force
an old doorbell that requires you to press the button hard
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in squeezing
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
as in huddling
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 forcing
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 urging
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 highlighting
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pressing
George Yang, PC Magazine, 8 June 2026
As always, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi answer our most pressing questions and make predictions about the upcoming race.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 6 June 2026
Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
Aluminium Bahrain is pressing ahead with a plan to buy France’s Aluminium Dunkerque, but the price has risen sharply since the idea was first mooted earlier in the year.
—Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Adjective
Even more pressing, though, is the stocker shock of storage in 2026 with prices hitting all-time highs.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 8 June 2026
As always, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi answer our most pressing questions and make predictions about the upcoming race.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 6 June 2026
Verb
In an October 2025 national survey, more than two-thirds of Peruvians identified both issues among the country’s most pressing problems.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
Aluminium Bahrain is pressing ahead with a plan to buy France’s Aluminium Dunkerque, but the price has risen sharply since the idea was first mooted earlier in the year.
—Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressing
Adjective
-
The regulation of our environment; the presence of chemicals both intentionally and unwittingly in our food, water, air, and land; the ecological fate of all living creatures, and of the earth itself—all these dilemmas and conundrums find urgent expression in Carson’s work.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
But for younger generations, these messages have become even more urgent.—
Staff Author,
Parents,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Syrian authorities regularly boast of seizing weapons headed for Lebanon.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
-
Still, seizing ships doesn’t seem like a very effective way to fill the Treasury’s coffers, and embracing freebooting carries risks besides financial ones.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Live musicians, live actors… and all those terrific kids are shoving the furniture around all night as well.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
8 June 2026
-
On Monday outside of Union Square Park, cops arrested 29-year-old Paris Valentine, who was accused of shoving an 85-year-old woman face first into the ground in an unprovoked attack.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Lightweight enough to toss into a carry-on, these slippers still have a durable sole, meaning quick trips to the airplane bathroom or hotel hallway don’t require squeezing back into shoes.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
-
Americans are reeling from a cost-of-living crisis that’s squeezing even the biggest earners in the country.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
There were women like her—some Indigenous and some African-looking sorrowful in their coarse linen shifts, huddling together.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
Executives and coaches, huddling in a hushed room, mull a decision.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Airbus Helicopters has revealed a new autonomous aircraft based on its popular H145 platform, pushing the company deeper into the growing market for large uncrewed rotorcraft.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 June 2026
-
In practice, staff can keep administrative windows or sensitive data securely on their side while pushing relevant content – like check-in forms, digital signatures, or purchase breakdowns – directly to the client.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Iran may have succeeded in forcing Washington to make a choice between supporting Israel’s military freedom of action and preserving a diplomatic track with Tehran.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
-
He is especially known for his signature sinker that is known for forcing weak contact on the ground.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
On a recent episode, Amanda, Ciara and West all go out to lunch and Amanda is almost urging Ciara and West on.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
10 June 2026
-
Hinton said her group is urging the governor and the Legislature to fully fund the program, whether from the state’s general fund or another source.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressing. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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