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
Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
Fast evaluation Guard was a need but there were more pressing needs on the roster.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 25 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
The Bengals added Fairchild in the third, so adding another lineman while there were more pressing needs is strange, especially a raw lineman like Rivers.
—Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
Fast evaluation Guard was a need but there were more pressing needs on the roster.
—Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 25 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
-
And yet, even in the face of these urgent challenges, there are those who still claim that the true purpose of college is something more abstract: the cultivation of character, the shaping of citizens, the appreciation of beauty and debate.—
Scott Pulsipher,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
-
Advocates and outreach workers gathered at The Stoop Collaborative Monday to celebrate its opening and underscore the urgent needs of the region’s homeless population.—
Annika Merrilees,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
The sudden heat spike, which was made more likely by the decades-long failure to stop burning fossil fuels, creates an acute danger for a populace not yet acclimatized to summer heat.—
Saul Elbein,
The Hill,
14 May 2025
-
Nearly 71,000 cases of acute malnutrition among children under five are expected between April 2025 and March 2026, the report said.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressing. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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