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
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Recent Examples of pressing
Emily Wanderer, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
More pressing was the possibility of being sued for civil trespass, which comes with a minimum fine of $100, but potentially tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 7 Jan. 2026
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
At the same time, executives need to tread a fine line with the president, who is pressing them to swiftly pledge new investments.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Adjective
For wildlife, the ethical controversies are perhaps less pressing, although there is still potential for animals to be harmed by people who are using AI systems.
—Emily Wanderer, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
More pressing was the possibility of being sued for civil trespass, which comes with a minimum fine of $100, but potentially tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
On Saturday, with Minnesota pressing the Islanders in the offensive zone early, Hughes fed the puck to Faber, who zipped a pass toward the net where Jones was waiting to redirect it low past New York goalie Ilya Sorokin.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
At the same time, executives need to tread a fine line with the president, who is pressing them to swiftly pledge new investments.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressing
Adjective
-
And there is another urgent area requiring our attention.—
Sacramento Bee staff,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The administration’s enthusiasm to improve America’s health has real, urgent promise.—
Jerome Adams,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But even for regional agencies, data gaps remain acute, forcing reliance on third-party proxies that flatten economic complexity.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
In Clayton’s and Josephson’s hands, though, the fawn response becomes something more pliable, less a sign of acute threat than a broadly anxious orientation to the world.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressing. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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