1
2
3
4
as in compresses
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
squeezed the blanket until it fit into the box
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in plucks
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the mob squeezes all the local merchants by threatening violence
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in darlings
slang
a person with whom one is in love
she and her main squeeze are spending Valentine's Day at a romantic country inn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of squeezes
New Atlas, 11 Jan. 2026
As the moon follows an elliptical path, Saturn’s gravity stretches and squeezes it.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025
Somewhere within the murky snowfall and frost, evening is falling, and the April darkness squeezes between snowflakes that pile up on the man and the two horses.
—Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
As Arizona squeezes more money from its decreasing share of river water, freighting every drop with critical industries and a booming housing market, the price of water is bound to keep climbing.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
The country’s geography squeezes a wild variety into a tight map.
—William Jones, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The surgeon withdraws the balloon and then squeezes the implant in through a sterile funnel before closing the incision.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 15 Oct. 2025
Keeping tires properly inflated not only extends their life but also squeezes more miles out of every charge—a win for the wallet and the planet.
—Melanie Marshall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
The motion from this system dynamically stretches and squeezes the space around these objects, sending gravitational waves across the universe.
—Chad Hanna, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
There had only been six previous go-ahead late-inning squeezes — by the Giants in the 2014 NLCS, the Nationals in the 2014 NLDS, the Yankees in the 1996 ALDS, the Mets in the 1969 World Series, the Red Sox in the 1918 World Series and the Braves in the 1914 World Series.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Using your hands, give the leaves 2 to 3 aggressive squeezes.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025
Simple exercises, such as ball squeezes, towel twists, dead hangs, and farmers' carries, can build grip strength using everyday items or basic equipment.
—Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
Worst of all, thanks to sporadic bouts of spot alopecia, too many squeezes of a lash curler and irritating makeup removal can spark a lash shed for me.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
This example of the latter skillfully squeezes a comfortable home for two into a single shipping container.
—New Atlas, 11 Jan. 2026
As the moon follows an elliptical path, Saturn’s gravity stretches and squeezes it.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025
Somewhere within the murky snowfall and frost, evening is falling, and the April darkness squeezes between snowflakes that pile up on the man and the two horses.
—Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
As Arizona squeezes more money from its decreasing share of river water, freighting every drop with critical industries and a booming housing market, the price of water is bound to keep climbing.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
The country’s geography squeezes a wild variety into a tight map.
—William Jones, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The surgeon withdraws the balloon and then squeezes the implant in through a sterile funnel before closing the incision.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 15 Oct. 2025
Keeping tires properly inflated not only extends their life but also squeezes more miles out of every charge—a win for the wallet and the planet.
—Melanie Marshall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
The motion from this system dynamically stretches and squeezes the space around these objects, sending gravitational waves across the universe.
—Chad Hanna, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
First, they are set up for serious short squeezes because the surrounding verbiage is so toxic.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
There had only been six previous go-ahead late-inning squeezes — by the Giants in the 2014 NLCS, the Nationals in the 2014 NLDS, the Yankees in the 1996 ALDS, the Mets in the 1969 World Series, the Red Sox in the 1918 World Series and the Braves in the 1914 World Series.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Using your hands, give the leaves 2 to 3 aggressive squeezes.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025
Simple exercises, such as ball squeezes, towel twists, dead hangs, and farmers' carries, can build grip strength using everyday items or basic equipment.
—Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
Worst of all, thanks to sporadic bouts of spot alopecia, too many squeezes of a lash curler and irritating makeup removal can spark a lash shed for me.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squeezes
Verb
-
While many of the Williams wannabes came from near and far, there were a few Caleb crushes in the crowd.—
Shardaa Gray,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Continue reading … HOUSTON HITS HARD – Steelers' playoff nightmare continues as Texans defense crushes Rodgers in rout.—
,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Television has always relied on big, gasp-inducing moments, but Murphy crams them in even at the expense of narrative cohesion.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The Nutribullet Ultra crams a 1200-watt motor into its rather slim casing; that’s double the wattage of the Nutribullet Pro blender that’s a step down.—
Noah Kaufman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Crandon Park Beach Key Biscayne, Florida A two-mile stretch of soft white sand in Key Biscayne, family-friendly Crandon Park Beach consistently earns praise for its beauty and calm waters thanks to an offshore sandbar.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The series is sprawling, politically thorny, ambitious storytelling that earns its many shades of grey.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Video inflates thought; reading compresses it.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
This vapor layer unexpectedly acts as a cushion, ensuring the shockwave compresses the water symmetrically.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Suddenly, Jeff Parker plucks a sighing six-note guitar run, dropping his shoulders into a solo section that carries the tune to its swooning conclusion.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
20 Dec. 2025
-
As Natalie walks away from Shayne, possibly for good, and as Venus and some entity named Gabby lunge for each other, Katie Maloney Schwartz Maloney plucks out her earbuds, pulls her sunglasses off her cunty little bob, closes her copy of The Shards, and packs up her bag.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
While many Democrats opposed the compromise as the left pushes for an aggressive stance against ICE, the party isn’t united on the issue.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Each year, the halftime show pushes the boundaries, setting new standards in stage design, choreography, costuming and performance expertise.—
Jayna Bardahl,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Other companies scheduled to report are market darlings SanDisk and Western Digital , as well as Deckers, and Stryker.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
-
While sitting front row at the Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Week Spring/Summer 2026 show on January 28, the London society darlings seemingly nodded to their status as British sartorial tastemakers with an NSFW twist on power dressing.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When closed, the sash presses firmly against the frame, which can help create a tight seal and limit air leakage.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Joseph Lopez, who runs a medical supply company, presses a spoon into the corners of the cube.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squeezes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squeezes. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
