crush 1 of 2

1
as in to mash
to cause to become a pulpy mass dark-colored grapes that will be crushed to make red wine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
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4
5
as in to squeeze
to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of after crushing the grapes, let the skins soak in the juice in order to extract some color

Synonyms & Similar Words

6
as in to cram
to fit (people or things) into a tight space the desperate refugees were crushed into the back of the truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

7

crush

2 of 2

noun

1
as in passion
a strong but often short-lived liking for another person fondly remembers the crush that she had on a boy one summer long ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

2

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun crush differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of crush are crowd, horde, mob, and throng. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

When might crowd be a better fit than crush?

While the synonyms crowd and crush are close in meaning, crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

When is mob a more appropriate choice than crush?

The words mob and crush can be used in similar contexts, but mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

How do throng and horde relate to one another, in the sense of crush?

Both throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters
a horde of shoppers

Examples 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 crush
Verb
The cathedral also has new furniture, including a new altar to replace one crushed when the flaming spire collapsed. John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024 Protests erupted in the southwestern city of Gwangju, and Mr. Chun sent in armored vehicles and paratroopers, who crushed the uprising. Ephrat Livni, New York Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
And The New York Observer wrote an article about coming to the show, and the article was just about how there were a lot of women who had crushes on me over the radio. Rachel Martin, NPR, 1 Dec. 2024 But no one ever warns you about meeting your first crush. Caroline Reilly, Robb Report, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for crush 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crush
Verb
  • Use your chopsticks to mash the beef together with the rice, sambal, etc., then savor each sweet, spicy, tangy bite.
    Keith Pandolfi, The Enquirer, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Use the back of a wooden spoon to mash berries and mix the ingredients together.
    Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • In June 2020, Willis demanded that Trump stop using Village People's music after the then-president threatened military action to quell protests following the police killing of George Floyd.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
  • And in case anyone thinks its suppressions are the stuff of the past, the emergence of far-right leaders around the Western world in the past few years quickly quells the fantasy.
    Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Over the last year, Russia has been on the front foot, with the exception of Kursk, and has been grinding deeper into eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region despite heavy losses.
    Samya Kullab and Tara Copp, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Choose your favorite salt for this recipe, and if possible, freshly grind the black pepper for the best flavor.
    Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • While Western allies have provided Ukraine with advanced air defense systems, including Patriot missiles, Russia's strategy appears designed to overwhelm these defenses with 'swarm' tactics—large, coordinated waves of missiles and drones aimed at saturating air defense systems.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Much like last year’s The Zone of Interest, a film which almost feels like this adaptation is in conversation with, a genuine artist has peeled back the cinematic clichés that threaten to now overwhelm certain subjects and returned a horror, an urgency, and a palpable sense of life to them.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Reusable Pizza Storage Container (5-Pack) This triangular container is way easier to squeeze into the fridge than a bulky pizza box.
    Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Translated, the budget pressures that Fitch expects to continue squeezing higher education are coming from rising costs and stagnant public support and not necessarily from market retraction.
    Derek Newton, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • This tendency to cram everything in also comes at the expense of nearly all of the characters, with the exception of Chalamet’s Dylan.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 11 Dec. 2024
  • But this is a Hollywood biopic that attempts to cram a very intense four-year period of history into a two-hour-and-21-minute movie.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • In the mother-son snap, Teigen can be seen holding and hugging Wren, who looks strikingly similar to Legend, 45.
    Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024
  • The woman and her mother have it out, hug, and make up, so Frasier and his dad Martin try arguing like Jews.
    Esther Zuckerman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • His dedication extends beyond the classroom, from volunteering to securing a summer internship with IU Cancer Research, all while pursuing a collegiate soccer scholarship and his passion, aiming to become Dr. Kamar’e Carr, world changer!
    Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Completing the trifecta of air, land, and sea, Anthony has maintained his passion for rowing, sitting as a board member of the Monica Burguera Foundation, which focuses on safety education for boaters.
    Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near crush

Cite this Entry

“Crush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crush. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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