pressure cooker

noun

1
: an airtight utensil for quick cooking or preserving of foods by means of high-temperature steam under pressure
2
: a situation or environment that is fraught with emotional or social pressures
pressure-cook verb

Examples of pressure cooker in a Sentence

The new boss has turned the office into a pressure cooker.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Airports like San Diego International become a pressure cooker during peak seasons, with controllers executing a delicate dance to keep everything running smoothly. U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025 The cost of living is too damn high and has surged by a staggering 76%, creating a pressure cooker of financial anxiety that disproportionately impacts Black Americans. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 24 Jan. 2025 This would create a pressure cooker, paving the way for negotiations with Beijing before American consumers feel the impact. David Bach, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2025 Before long, the entire organization is a fire-fighting pressure cooker. Shani Harmon, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for pressure cooker 

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pressure cooker was in 1915

Dictionary Entries Near pressure cooker

Cite this Entry

“Pressure cooker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pressure%20cooker. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

pressure cooker

noun
: a utensil for cooking or preserving foods by means of steam under pressure
pressure-cook
ˌpresh-ər-ˈku̇k
verb

More from Merriam-Webster on pressure cooker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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