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
Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2025
Really dangerous vulnerabilities may be left in place while much less pressing issues are dealt with.
—David Prosser, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2025
Those two pressing matters have put talks with IndyCar for a 2026 event on pause as the promoters wait to see if Mexico City has an appetite and ability to afford multiple racing series.
—Jenna Fryer, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Adjective
Plus, with last month’s signing of veteran Grady Jarrett, the Bears might opt to address more pressing needs with their first-round pick.
—Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2025
Really dangerous vulnerabilities may be left in place while much less pressing issues are dealt with.
—David Prosser, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
The Dishwasher Is Starting to Rust Rust is never a good sign, but a few specks of rust on the outside of the dishwasher might not be a pressing issue that needs to be dealt with immediately.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2025
Those two pressing matters have put talks with IndyCar for a 2026 event on pause as the promoters wait to see if Mexico City has an appetite and ability to afford multiple racing series.
—Jenna Fryer, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressing
Adjective
-
As the exhibition illustrated, Pan-Africanism also corresponded with urgent anti-colonial, anti-apartheid, and civil rights movements worldwide.—
Delinda Collier,
Artforum,
1 May 2025
-
That is the urgent story that authors Allen and Parnes ignored.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
With acute stress, a rapid spike in the hormone typically helps your brain process and retain memories so they can be retrieved later.—
Alisa Hrustic,
SELF,
1 May 2025
-
Museums are imperiled by acute financial, social, and ideological challenges.—
Eric Crosby,
Artforum,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressing. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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