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
Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
But the lack of dependability around them and incoming extension negotiations tells a more pressing story.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
And yet the industry is pressing ahead.
—Marc Augustin, STAT, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Adjective
Presented by City National Bank, attendees gathered in Los Angeles to hear from dealmakers and litigators on Hollywood’s most pressing issues.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
But the lack of dependability around them and incoming extension negotiations tells a more pressing story.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
The footage cuts from the singer largely on stage, also backstage and pressing the flesh.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
And yet the industry is pressing ahead.
—Marc Augustin, STAT, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressing
Adjective
-
One answer would be that the more savage the storm, the more urgent the need for safe havens.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Simandl was then rushed to Tampa General Hospital for urgent treatment and was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) — a rare and aggressive form of leukemia where immature white blood cells multiply uncontrollably, preventing the body from producing healthy blood cells.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
More than this many people face acute hunger, according to the World Food Program.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
In Baltimore, where economic disparities are more acute, the consequences are magnified.—
Brian Walter,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressing. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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