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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pushing
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
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
Environmental advocates opposed relying on voluntary agreements as the plan’s primary pathway, instead pushing for firm, enforceable minimum flow standards, while water agencies continued to support the voluntary approach.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite a challenging 2025 and ongoing price pressures impacting both retailers and consumers, brands are pushing forward with premium fabrics, new fabrications and more directional design statements.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 23 Feb. 2026
Consequently, high-earning professionals will be forced to downshift into gig economy roles, flooding the labor supply and pushing down wages across the entire economy.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
Students at Saginaw Boswell High School who participated in anti-ICE walkouts earlier this month and their parents are pushing back against the district after receiving two days of in school suspension as punishment.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, another creative with a history of pushing back, 2023 strikes guild adviser Justine Bateman, was planning her own offensive.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026
On highways in Connecticut, some drivers resorted to pushing their cars stuck in the snow, while others were caught up in wrecks that caused hourslong traffic delays.
—Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
When the energetic Sun clashes with unpredictable Uranus, plans are likely to wobble, pushing us to adapt expectations and stretch comfort zones.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
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
European officials want urgent clarity on the matter, however, and French officials appeared to be pushing for the EU to consider using its Anti-Coercion Instrument, or ACI, as a retaliatory measure, if necessary.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
Environmental advocates opposed relying on voluntary agreements as the plan’s primary pathway, instead pushing for firm, enforceable minimum flow standards, while water agencies continued to support the voluntary approach.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite a challenging 2025 and ongoing price pressures impacting both retailers and consumers, brands are pushing forward with premium fabrics, new fabrications and more directional design statements.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 23 Feb. 2026
Consequently, high-earning professionals will be forced to downshift into gig economy roles, flooding the labor supply and pushing down wages across the entire economy.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
Students at Saginaw Boswell High School who participated in anti-ICE walkouts earlier this month and their parents are pushing back against the district after receiving two days of in school suspension as punishment.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, another creative with a history of pushing back, 2023 strikes guild adviser Justine Bateman, was planning her own offensive.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026
On highways in Connecticut, some drivers resorted to pushing their cars stuck in the snow, while others were caught up in wrecks that caused hourslong traffic delays.
—Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
When the energetic Sun clashes with unpredictable Uranus, plans are likely to wobble, pushing us to adapt expectations and stretch comfort zones.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pushing
Adjective
-
The goal was simple, but ambitious.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
-
As medal designs have grown more ambitious, the physical demands have grown with them.—
Eric Sullivan,
Scientific American,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Breakfast is a busy affair, but those in signature suites can eat in the lounge (soon to be renovated but with a great view) or order room service.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Soundstages in Los Angeles would be busy, thousands of people would be working in those few months early in the year, producing shows that ranged from all-time classics to all-time blunders.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood on the Saturday before Halloween, officers arrested a man and triggered a chain of events that ended with them shoving a father in a yellow duck costume to the ground and breaking the ribs of a 67-year-old resident.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Coaches, referees and security tried to break up the pushing and shoving from both sides.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The fall was aided by the cooling prices of gasoline, eggs, and beef, but rising costs for consumer goods like apparel, computers, and airfares suggest tariffs are still squeezing household budgets.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, 2026 is about building both stylish and sensible outfits that can take you from the airport to the streets with maximum versatility without ever squeezing into tight, form-fitting fabric.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Trial of Seven is about to commence — a clash of mud, blood, and iron before a roaring crowd to determine the fate of the aspiring knight that dared to defend a lowly stage performer from a rampaging Targaryen prince.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Play Now Duvall, born in San Diego in 1931, spent much of the 1960s as other aspiring actors of his generation did, in small roles on television.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The congresswoman said Rafael had been detained by ICE agents after a routine inspection while driving a commercial cargo truck in Louisiana.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Tutash Express and Sam Express in the Chicago area were also disqualified, and the Aydana driving school that the trucker involved in the crash attended lost its certification.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Sharks, at the moment, do not have a pressing need to create an opening on the 23-man roster.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
However, system discipline and SDFC’s pressing structure were the true backbone last year.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The World Design Organization has designated Frankfurt the 2026 World Design Capital, further thrusting it into the global zeitgeist.—
Diana Hubbell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Dancing With the Stars pro Gleb Savchenko and troupe member Marcquet Hill sashayed their way onto Tuesday's episode of the long-running CBS soap as a couple of hip-thrusting bachelorette party dancers.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pushing. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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