as in squeezed
Related Words
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Dissimilar Words
as in seized
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
1
as in shoved
to push steadily against with some force
an old doorbell that requires you to press the button hard
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in huddled
to gather into a closely packed group
everyone pressed around me to see the pictures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in compelled
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in urged
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in emphasized
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pressed
Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
Justin, Keokuk, Iowa You’d be hard-pressed to find more than a couple that are evenly split all the time.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Mexico City, Mexico You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who needs convincing to visit Mexico City.
—Annie Daly, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
The Bills could be hard-pressed to bring back Edwards as the team faces salary cap constraints.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
But the Chiefs would be hard-pressed to not at least field calls from other teams on a potential trade-back.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026
South Texas — along with much of the state — has been hard-pressed to see any meaningful rainfall since the start of 2026.
—Anthony Franze, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Feb. 2026
But without star forward JT Toppin, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury, the Red Raiders will be hard-pressed to survive the opening weekend, much less the regionals.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
Not Washing Rice Before Cooking We’d be hard-pressed to find many old-school Southern cooks who wanted to spend the time rinsing rice before cooking.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
And there are also lamb lollipops in a mint vinaigrette and pressed pork belly in a chipotle glaze.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
While Beijing pressed ahead with its review, the deal was completed with more than 100 Manus employees having moved into Meta's Singapore office in early March, according to people familiar with the matter.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
When pressed about the path forward with TSA agents and other workers left in the lurch, Murphy said Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, are the ones who have rejected their proposals to provide immediate funding for the Transportation Security Administration.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
One of my guides encouraged me to touch the stuff once it had been pressed into one of the shells.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
The restaurant’s specialty sushi rolls and pressed sushi are among the menu highlights, Li says.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
But Missouri Republican officials have pressed forward, arguing that the map is still in effect because the referendum has not been officially certified for the ballot.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Quraishi pressed prosecutors on whether Habba, now a senior adviser to Bondi, still exerted influence over the office.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Yoán Moncada or 34-year-old DH Jorge Soler, and the Angels would be hard-pressed to replace them with even average production.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
Justin, Keokuk, Iowa You’d be hard-pressed to find more than a couple that are evenly split all the time.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Mexico City, Mexico You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who needs convincing to visit Mexico City.
—Annie Daly, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
The Bills could be hard-pressed to bring back Edwards as the team faces salary cap constraints.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
But the Chiefs would be hard-pressed to not at least field calls from other teams on a potential trade-back.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2026
South Texas — along with much of the state — has been hard-pressed to see any meaningful rainfall since the start of 2026.
—Anthony Franze, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Feb. 2026
But without star forward JT Toppin, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury, the Red Raiders will be hard-pressed to survive the opening weekend, much less the regionals.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
Not Washing Rice Before Cooking We’d be hard-pressed to find many old-school Southern cooks who wanted to spend the time rinsing rice before cooking.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
Surrounded by vicious and violent hitmen that have been pressed into service as childcare, Juan Pablo must reckon with his father's crumbling power and find his own way in the world after his death.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
And there are also lamb lollipops in a mint vinaigrette and pressed pork belly in a chipotle glaze.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2026
While Beijing pressed ahead with its review, the deal was completed with more than 100 Manus employees having moved into Meta's Singapore office in early March, according to people familiar with the matter.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026
When pressed about the path forward with TSA agents and other workers left in the lurch, Murphy said Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, are the ones who have rejected their proposals to provide immediate funding for the Transportation Security Administration.
—Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
One of my guides encouraged me to touch the stuff once it had been pressed into one of the shells.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
The restaurant’s specialty sushi rolls and pressed sushi are among the menu highlights, Li says.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
But Missouri Republican officials have pressed forward, arguing that the map is still in effect because the referendum has not been officially certified for the ballot.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Quraishi pressed prosecutors on whether Habba, now a senior adviser to Bondi, still exerted influence over the office.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressed
Adjective
-
Top with more crushed ice, then drizzle the crème de mûre on top.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Swizzles, a genre of cocktails served over crushed or pebbled ice, are meant for sipping.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
China’s military has unveiled a combat drone converted from a Soviet–era fighter jet, a development that could enable massed drone attacks in any future conflict over Taiwan.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pressed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressed. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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