Synonyms of pushing

pushing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpu̇-shiŋ 

1

as in ambitious

having a strong desire for personal advancement

among the young associates at the law firm, he was unmistakably the most pushing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ambitious
• aspiring
• driving
• hard-driving
• hustling
• energetic
• eager
• motivated
• dynamic
• go-getting
• diligent
• determined
• ardent
• hungry
• aggressive
• self-seeking
• enterprising
• competing
• lively
• venturesome
• industrious
• spirited
• competitive
• impassioned
• animated
• avid
• vigorous
• scrappy
• pushy
• rival
• gung ho
• assertive
• venturous
• opportunistic
• raring
• keen
• pretentious
• high-flying
• overambitious
• self-assertive
• rivalrous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifferent
• uninterested
• disinterested
• unambitious
• apathetic
• casual
• lackadaisical
• unexcited
• unenthusiastic
• easygoing
• lukewarm
• tepid
• lazy
• sluggish
• halfhearted
• uneager
• ambitionless
• lethargic
• listless
• shiftless
• lazyish
• spiritless
• unaggressive
• unassertive

2

as in busy

thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited

the sort of sycophantic, pushing man on the make that everyone loves to hate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• busy
• intruding
• prying
• interfering
• meddling
• pushy
• annoying
• intrusive
• officious
• meddlesome
• obtrusive
• presuming
• protrusive
• invading
• nosy
• rude
• snoopy
• presumptuous
• trespassing
• brazen
• curious
• impudent
• bumptious
• insolent
• harassing
• inquisitive
• bold
• impertinent
• overbearing
• pestiferous
• superserviceable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unobtrusive
• withdrawn
• silent
• retiring
• quiet
• reserved
• uninvolved
• restrained
• inhibited
• reticent
• hands-off
• reclusive
• subdued
• taciturn

pushing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of push

1

as in shoving

to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one

I had to push my damaged bike all the way home

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shoving
• driving
• thrusting
• propelling
• moving
• squeezing
• forcing
• jamming
• pressuring
• compressing
• bearing (down)
• weighing (upon)
• impelling
• squashing
• compelling
• depressing
• leaning (on or against)
• ramming
• muscling
• bulldozing

2

as in squeezing

to force one's way

we had to push our way through a crowd that was mostly headed in the opposite direction

Synonyms & Similar Words

• squeezing
• shoving
• pressing
• jamming
• crashing
• jostling
• elbowing
• bulldozing
• shouldering
• thrusting
• muscling
• boring
• bulling
• ramming

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pushing

Adjective

The weight limit was a necessary move to equalize race conditions and curb the use of athletic specialists who, although not bobsledders, have in the past proven decisive in their teams’ success through the pushing phase. — Alessio Caprodossi, Wired News, 15 Feb. 2026

Musk plunged into a controversy of his own making after tweeting and deleting a post pushing baseless allegations about the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. — Hamza Shaban, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2022

Verb

Ali Tager, an NCA vice president, said on the On The Margin podcast that about a third of small and mid-sized businesses already accept crypto, and that their own customers are pushing. — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Now, Hortman and two of his children are pushing to stop Blanche from formally taking on the role of the country's top cop. — Conor Wight, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026

The class immediately closed the door and scrambled to barricade the room, pushing tables and chairs against the door and turning off the lights. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

These accounts underscore ongoing efforts to improve access for small and mid‑sized importers, pushing back on narratives that the process is purely skewed toward corporate giants. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

It’s obsessed with pushing people to drink raw milk, and has relaxed alcohol guidelines. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 6 Aug. 2026

His Contra Costa County district has added a week-long break in October, pushing its start date a week earlier. — Leslie Griffy, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026

Maresca likes to use three defenders and two midfielders when his teams play out from the back, with the fourth defender pushing up into attack, either on the wing or in an attacking midfield role. — Sam Lee, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Now, sales are slowing, tariff costs are biting, and war is pushing gas prices higher. — Philipp Kampshoff, Fortune, 30 July 2026