as in overwhelming
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
2
as in quelling
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
the government is doing everything to crush the latest guerrilla uprising
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in grinding
to reduce to fine particles
crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in devastating
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
the terrible news of her death simply crushed the entire family
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in squeezing
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 cramming
to fit (people or things) into a tight space
the desperate refugees were crushed into the back of the truck
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in hugging
to put one's arms around and press tightly
she tearfully crushed the child to her breast
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 crushing
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Even the laughs and smiles that Joe and Kate Keller issue are fleeting, a respite from the journey toward a more crushing reality.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
Josh Gross, Daily News, 31 May 2026
India’s capitalist economy is booming, and the ruling Hindu-nationalist government is crushing its above-ground leftist opponents at the ballot box.
—Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
That late-game run––forty-four points to the Cavs’ eleven––was as soul-crushing to Cleveland as the apparition of Willis Reed, hobbling to center court, had been to the Lakers fifty-six years ago.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
But the most crushing scene was Michols sitting down with his mother, who hasn’t always been supportive, and seeing just how hard coming out still is in some circumstances.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 29 May 2026
What once seemed like an agitator railing against the system has become a gatekeeper crushing dissidents under his thumb.
—Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 29 May 2026
GameStop shares ripped 1,500% higher in January of 2021, crushing Melvin Capital and others who were short.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Advertisement That’s already a crushing loss, but there was another equally devastating incident during Exercise Tiger, one that featured in Haig’s original play.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 29 May 2026
It was once believed to be completely lifeless due to crushing pressure, darkness, and freezing temperatures.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
Adjective
And that makes his collapse all the more crushing.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Even the laughs and smiles that Joe and Kate Keller issue are fleeting, a respite from the journey toward a more crushing reality.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Chasing Hokies reliever Madden Clement with no outs in the ninth, Mulivai Levu began the three-run rally at Jackie Robinson Stadium by crushing his 18th homer of the season to right.
—Josh Gross, Daily News, 31 May 2026
India’s capitalist economy is booming, and the ruling Hindu-nationalist government is crushing its above-ground leftist opponents at the ballot box.
—Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
That late-game run––forty-four points to the Cavs’ eleven––was as soul-crushing to Cleveland as the apparition of Willis Reed, hobbling to center court, had been to the Lakers fifty-six years ago.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
But the most crushing scene was Michols sitting down with his mother, who hasn’t always been supportive, and seeing just how hard coming out still is in some circumstances.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 29 May 2026
What once seemed like an agitator railing against the system has become a gatekeeper crushing dissidents under his thumb.
—Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 29 May 2026
GameStop shares ripped 1,500% higher in January of 2021, crushing Melvin Capital and others who were short.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Advertisement That’s already a crushing loss, but there was another equally devastating incident during Exercise Tiger, one that featured in Haig’s original play.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 29 May 2026
It was once believed to be completely lifeless due to crushing pressure, darkness, and freezing temperatures.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crushing
Adjective
-
Delisle had seen enough to know that these currents were overwhelming, even dangerous at times.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
The ability to disconnect intentionally from these overwhelming stimuli—to reclaim one’s focus, clarity, and feeling of immediacy—has become rare and precious.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Lego’s classic button-mashing combat is spiced up with dodge and parry prompts to evade gunfire and counter incoming attacks.—
Gabriel Zamora,
PC Magazine,
26 May 2026
-
In the video, Mariko baked a few salmon fillets and boiled some rice before assembling the easy dish, which involved mashing the salmon into bits with a fork and mixing it into the rice along with Kewpie mayonnaise (a Japanese brand of the condiment), soy sauce and hot sauce.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
And then there’s a man falling from a building, smoke bombs, and an army quelling protesters.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2026
-
After Congress passed a law lifting restrictions on the army’s role in quelling civil unrest late Tuesday, Paz now has the constitutional authority to invoke this power.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Nine crucial years of expansion and solidification of the pernicious institution went by, speeding the nation’s road toward a grinding war.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
After more than four years, Russia’s full-scale invasion has morphed into a grinding war of attrition where soldiers are being killed en masse, financial losses are piling up and Kyiv has started to liberate more land than Moscow has seized.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The British government refused to subsidize food prices or restrict exports of Irish agricultural goods, further devastating the island.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
The carp have already shifted Mississippi River ecosystems by crowding out native fish, devastating some areas.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
After squeezing the game’s final out, first baseman Leyton MacPherson casually flipped the ball in the air, joined her teammate in a sprint toward Spangler, and gloves began flying.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
After a week of squeezing through the dangerous, mazelike cave network, divers Mikko Paasi and Norrased Palasing emerged from its muddy waters Wednesday to find a cause for hope.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
That’s cramming too many homes on limited acreage, especially in an area where traffic is already dangerous because of so many new developments, two neighbors told the board to applause from the Town Hall audience.—
Joe Marusak
May 27,
Charlotte Observer,
27 May 2026
-
Clark agreed with Reinhart’s observations, but warned that the four-day workweek wasn’t so much as cramming a 40-hour week into four days as a genuine reduction to 32 hours, one that respected an employee’s life outside of work.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Other videos showed rescuers inside and outside the cave cheering, jumping around and hugging each other in joy after the discovery.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
-
Dina Powell McCormick weaves through the crowd, cheerily hugging people and introducing strangers to one another.—
Ellie Austin,
Fortune,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crushing. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
