1
2
3
4
as in compresses
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
squeezed the blanket until it fit into the box
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in plucks
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the mob squeezes all the local merchants by threatening violence
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in darlings
slang
a person with whom one is in love
she and her main squeeze are spending Valentine's Day at a romantic country inn
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 squeezes
Stefan Ionescu
march 30, New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026
There’s no end to the war in sight after one month as Iran squeezes the global economy.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2026
Priced at just £600, the 13-inch Neo squeezes many of the MacBook Air’s best features into a device that is far more affordable.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 Mar. 2026
The prospect of higher food prices comes as the category already squeezes many shoppers.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
It also gets compressed, which squeezes the air and puts even more pressure on it, which heats it up.
—Zoe Mintz, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
As the Iran conflict disrupts energy markets and squeezes jet-fuel supplies, there is a concern that airfares could rise in the weeks ahead.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Any tariff shift moves shipping volumes, squeezes supply chains, and eventually nudges consumer prices — but those ripples take time to reach shelves and paychecks.
—James Ward, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Instead, in order to protect their identities, their words are read aloud during re-enactments by powerhouse actresses such as Emma Thompson (who squeezes herself beneath an axle) and Kate Dickie (performing, as the nurse, on all fours on Kenmure Street itself).
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
There had only been six previous go-ahead late-inning squeezes — by the Giants in the 2014 NLCS, the Nationals in the 2014 NLDS, the Yankees in the 1996 ALDS, the Mets in the 1969 World Series, the Red Sox in the 1918 World Series and the Braves in the 1914 World Series.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Using your hands, give the leaves 2 to 3 aggressive squeezes.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025
Simple exercises, such as ball squeezes, towel twists, dead hangs, and farmers' carries, can build grip strength using everyday items or basic equipment.
—Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
Worst of all, thanks to sporadic bouts of spot alopecia, too many squeezes of a lash curler and irritating makeup removal can spark a lash shed for me.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
The pencil-thin DQ Tower squeezes a full home into a very slender footprint, while the EONE XL takes a wider prefab approach to the same basic challenge.
—Stefan Ionescu
march 30, New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026
There’s no end to the war in sight after one month as Iran squeezes the global economy.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2026
Priced at just £600, the 13-inch Neo squeezes many of the MacBook Air’s best features into a device that is far more affordable.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 Mar. 2026
The prospect of higher food prices comes as the category already squeezes many shoppers.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
It also gets compressed, which squeezes the air and puts even more pressure on it, which heats it up.
—Zoe Mintz, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
As the Iran conflict disrupts energy markets and squeezes jet-fuel supplies, there is a concern that airfares could rise in the weeks ahead.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Any tariff shift moves shipping volumes, squeezes supply chains, and eventually nudges consumer prices — but those ripples take time to reach shelves and paychecks.
—James Ward, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Instead, in order to protect their identities, their words are read aloud during re-enactments by powerhouse actresses such as Emma Thompson (who squeezes herself beneath an axle) and Kate Dickie (performing, as the nurse, on all fours on Kenmure Street itself).
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
First, they are set up for serious short squeezes because the surrounding verbiage is so toxic.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
There had only been six previous go-ahead late-inning squeezes — by the Giants in the 2014 NLCS, the Nationals in the 2014 NLDS, the Yankees in the 1996 ALDS, the Mets in the 1969 World Series, the Red Sox in the 1918 World Series and the Braves in the 1914 World Series.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Using your hands, give the leaves 2 to 3 aggressive squeezes.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Sep. 2025
Simple exercises, such as ball squeezes, towel twists, dead hangs, and farmers' carries, can build grip strength using everyday items or basic equipment.
—Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 8 Sep. 2025
Worst of all, thanks to sporadic bouts of spot alopecia, too many squeezes of a lash curler and irritating makeup removal can spark a lash shed for me.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squeezes
Verb
-
Mike Tyson plays a space-cadet version of himself, but the show transcends the one-note premise with its smart deployment of sharp joke writing, stellar voice actors (including Norm Macdonald, who crushes as a pigeon with a drinking problem), and a heavy dose of metafiction.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Because these drugs are so precious, new antibiotics are deliberately held in reserve to slow the emergence of resistance, a practice known as stewardship that benefits future patients but crushes commercial prospects.—
Henry Skinner,
STAT,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Director Allan Deberton crams much story and characterization in those opening frames.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, the show crams everything into a space that can't hold it, culminating in this past third season that exploded with too much of practically everything.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Our expert take The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card earns transferrable miles, which is a stand-out benefit for a no-annual-fee card.—
Jasmin Suknanan,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Someone making a few dollars over 400% of the federal poverty level earns too much to get a subsidy now, and in some states average premium payments were due to at least triple for this group.—
Tribune News Service,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The back line compresses space, the midfield disrupts passing lanes and Ferree has commanded his box with composure beyond his years.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Most have a double-zipper system, with one zipper to close the cube and a second zipper that compresses it to a fraction of its full size.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But if Rick later plucks something from behind that rock at the fire, are others going to start poking around looking for stuff?—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The first layer, called the Level-1 Trigger, or L1T, harvests 100,000 events per second, and the second layer, called the High-Level Trigger, or HLT, plucks 1,000 of those events to save for later analysis.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That leaves a sicker, older, more expensive pool of enrollees, which pushes up premiums for everyone.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Our standards, our accountability and the way the group pushes each other every day, that is what has sustained our performance independent of who the head coach is.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But for the most part, Knight hesitated to kill his darlings.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Think viral hits like Laneige and TirTir, industry staples like Jung Saem Mool and Clio, and indie darlings like AOU.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mahajan presses firmly into the inner lives and cerebral crevices of terror victims, witnesses and perpetrators.—
Sibani Ram,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Chief Justice Nels Peterson presses a Clayton prosecutor about citing cases that don’t exist.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squeezes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squeezes. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
