Synonyms of press

press 1 of 3

noun

ˈpres 

1

as in pantry

a built-in space for storage behind a door

put the towels in the linen press

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pantry
• cupboard
• closet
• cuddy
• buttery
• larder
• cloakroom
• wardrobe
• vestiary
• coatroom
• spence
• ambry
• garderobe

2

as in throng

a great number of persons or creatures massed together

he pushed his way through the press of people outside the courthouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• throng
• crowd
• swarm
• flock
• horde
• mob
• crush
• mass
• army
• multitude
• legion
• masses
• host
• drove
• bike
• rout
• herd
• scrum
• cram
• millions
• rabble
• pile
• gaggle
• rabblement
• mountain
• heap
• jam
• riffraff
• logjam

3

as in cabinet

a storage case typically having doors and shelves

originally designed as a press for clothes, it now serves to hide the bedroom TV

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cabinet
• cupboard
• locker
• closet
• console
• buffet
• dresser
• chest
• secretary
• sideboard
• hutch
• showcase
• china closet
• bookcase
• credence
• credenza
• wardrobe
• tabouret
• breakfront
• pie safe
• vitrine
• armoire
• shelving
• clothespress
• taboret
• étagère
• cuddy
• cabinetry
• etagere
• garderobe

press

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to seize

to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right

the fleeing bank robber pressed a nearby taxi into service as a getaway car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• seize
• grab
• confiscate
• claim
• occupy
• convert
• usurp
• steal
• appropriate
• preempt
• pirate
• arrogate
• assume
• annex
• snatch
• take over
• invade
• commandeer
• loot
• expropriate
• attach
• grasp
• collar
• impound
• wrench
• sequester
• encroach
• trespass
• pillage
• preoccupy
• repossess
• infringe
• despoil
• misuse
• wrest
• embezzle
• misapply
• peculate
• misappropriate

press

3 of 3

verb (2)

1

as in to shove

to push steadily against with some force

an old doorbell that requires you to press the button hard

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shove
• compress
• depress
• punch
• squeeze
• bear (down on)
• weigh (on or upon)
• force
• pressure
• mash
• thrust
• stuff
• compel
• muscle
• squash
• squish
• jam
• squoosh
• lean (on or against)
• crush
• propel
• compact
• wedge
• drive
• pack
• contract
• wring
• constrict
• scrunch
• condense
• cram
• jam-pack

2

as in to squeeze

to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of

my family will only drink juice from freshly pressed oranges

Synonyms & Similar Words

• squeeze
• mash
• crush
• express
• extract
• pulp
• ream
• extrude
• puree
• purée

3

as in to huddle

to gather into a closely packed group

everyone pressed around me to see the pictures

Synonyms & Similar Words

• huddle
• crowd
• pile
• bunch
• assemble
• cluster
• flock
• swarm
• mob
• converge
• surround
• conglomerate
• herd
• hug
• concentrate
• collect
• throng
• convene
• congregate
• encircle
• concenter
• forgather
• foregather
• embrace

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• split (up)
• break up
• disperse
• disband

4

as in to push

to force one's way

we continued to press deeper and deeper into the tangled rain forest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• push
• squeeze
• shove
• elbow
• muscle
• jam
• bull
• bore
• shoulder
• crash
• thrust
• jostle
• bulldoze
• ram

5

as in to force

to cause (a person) to give in to pressure

a manager pressed by a business crisis to return from his vacation ahead of schedule

Synonyms & Similar Words

• force
• compel
• coerce
• oblige
• pressure
• obligate
• drive
• muscle
• impress
• constrain
• blackmail
• dragoon
• intimidate
• sandbag
• make
• impel
• bully
• blackjack
• twist one's arm
• drag
• browbeat
• cow
• threaten
• shame
• high-pressure
• hector
• bulldoze
• badger
• menace
• hound
• terrorize
• harass

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• let
• permit
• allow
• move
• talk (into)
• argue
• win (over)
• induce
• convince
• satisfy
• persuade
• prevail (on or upon)

6

as in to urge

to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action

pressed us to go with them to the school board meeting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• urge
• encourage
• prompt
• push
• nudge
• egg (on)
• exhort
• spur
• goad
• prod
• coax
• propel
• stimulate
• pressure
• drive
• rush
• hurry
• implore
• provoke
• beseech
• hustle
• needle
• importune
• cajole
• wheedle
• high-pressure
• stir (up)
• soft-soap
• adjure
• nag
• incite
• foment
• instigate
• blandish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discourage
• deter
• brake
• check
• restrain
• dissuade
• inhibit
• curb
• hold back
• constrain

7

as in to highlight

to indicate the importance of by centering attention on

an office e-mail that presses the need for greater vigilance concerning building security

Synonyms & Similar Words

• highlight
• emphasize
• stress
• feature
• accent
• point (up)
• punctuate
• focus
• identify
• play up
• accentuate
• illuminate
• foreground
• bear down on
• promote
• make much of
• publicize
• advertise
• spotlight
• pinpoint
• plug
• boost
• overplay

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tone (down)
• play down
• minimize
• understate
• de-emphasize
• disparage
• discount
• underemphasize
• belittle

Examples of press in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This happens for a variety of reasons, and much can and has been made of the mainstream press’s particular animosity toward the left. —Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2024

Oh, the whirlwind experience that was watching the Challengers film… and admiring the on-theme press tour looks that came before it. —Victoria Montalti, refinery29.com, 17 Oct. 2024

Verb

This November, our governments face a historic moment to tackle a pressing global challenge. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2024

This woman who, on their first meeting, slid across the booth, pressed her lips against his, then burst out crying in the middle of the restaurant, all their neighbors looking. —Paul Yoon, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2024

Phrases Containing press

• press (for)