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
Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
While most bullion coins track spot closely, certain products remain in higher demand during supply squeezes or retail rushes.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Any tariff shift moves shipping volumes, squeezes supply chains, and eventually nudges consumer prices — but those ripples take time to reach shelves and paychecks.
—James Ward, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
All this requires a lot of power, which puts a strain on the grid and squeezes local resources.
—New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2026
Instead, in order to protect their identities, their words are read aloud during re-enactments by powerhouse actresses such as Emma Thompson (who squeezes herself beneath an axle) and Kate Dickie (performing, as the nurse, on all fours on Kenmure Street itself).
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
FOToS squeezes a great deal of Puerto Rican culture and politics into the format of an event album that is aching to get children and grandparents on the same page.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 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
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
Drew Angerer / Getty Images file For months, school officials have floated proposals to relocate or close at least four middle schools on the Upper West Side, citing low enrollment, funding squeezes, academic performance and compliance with a 2022 law requiring class-size reductions by 2028.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026
While most bullion coins track spot closely, certain products remain in higher demand during supply squeezes or retail rushes.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Any tariff shift moves shipping volumes, squeezes supply chains, and eventually nudges consumer prices — but those ripples take time to reach shelves and paychecks.
—James Ward, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
All this requires a lot of power, which puts a strain on the grid and squeezes local resources.
—New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2026
Instead, in order to protect their identities, their words are read aloud during re-enactments by powerhouse actresses such as Emma Thompson (who squeezes herself beneath an axle) and Kate Dickie (performing, as the nurse, on all fours on Kenmure Street itself).
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
FOToS squeezes a great deal of Puerto Rican culture and politics into the format of an event album that is aching to get children and grandparents on the same page.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 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
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
-
Because these drugs are so precious, new antibiotics are deliberately held in reserve to slow the emergence of resistance, a practice known as stewardship that benefits future patients but crushes commercial prospects.—
Henry Skinner,
STAT,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Early voting crushes record in Texas Early voting in Texas smashed records.—
From Staff Reports,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Director Allan Deberton crams much story and characterization in those opening frames.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, the show crams everything into a space that can't hold it, culminating in this past third season that exploded with too much of practically everything.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
By comparison, an FDNY firefighter earns $45,196 right out of the FDNY Academy and can earn around $110,000 after five years.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The winner earns an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Most have a double-zipper system, with one zipper to close the cube and a second zipper that compresses it to a fraction of its full size.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
-
In operation, the actuator compresses and holds the Ni-Ti tubes, causing the material to heat up.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But if Rick later plucks something from behind that rock at the fire, are others going to start poking around looking for stuff?—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The first layer, called the Level-1 Trigger, or L1T, harvests 100,000 events per second, and the second layer, called the High-Level Trigger, or HLT, plucks 1,000 of those events to save for later analysis.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Panama’s Jonathan Araúz exchanged shouts and pushes with manager José Mayorga when the pinch hitter returned to the dugout after grounding out leading off the ninth.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Overnight line of storms with damaging winds A second chance for severe storms comes later Tuesday as a cold front pushes through the region, likely bringing a line of storms with damaging winds and heavy rain, the weather service said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the end, none of it mattered, because one night later, the espresso-guzzling darlings of the tournament extended a helping hand.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Profits from touring and record and merch sales were enough to get by on, and over six years, the Weakerthans became Canadian indie-rock darlings.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Outside of these scenarios, taking melatonin may not have as much upside—your brain is already making the melatonin that signals sleepy time each evening, and adding more simply presses the same button.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The Chatten-Brown letter presses council members to require the developer to fully mitigate project impacts so that taxpayers are not later required to shoulder the cost of infrastructure.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squeezes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squeezes. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
