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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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

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 crush
Verb
In the seventh, Fernando Tatis Jr. crushed a solo home run that sailed over the left field fence and onto the new two-story A’s club house, a 406-foot shot for a Padres 5-3 lead, and A’s ace Luis Severino dropped to 0-2 on the season despite an otherwise solid outing. Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2025 This is a man who’s always been able to fix every problem, because no problem was so big that money and power couldn’t crush it. Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
One of the great things is both of those guys had secret crushes on each other from afar. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2025 The characters knew each other as children, harboring a mutual crush on each other for years before friendship finally blossomed into romance. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crush
Verb
  • Mervis mashed another long ball in the Marlins’ 11-4 rout of the Nationals at loanDepot park Sunday afternoon, crushing reliever Jorge Lopez’s 94-mph fastball 411 feet over the center-field wall as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning.
    Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Even Enrique Hernández and Will Smith are mashing the covering off the ball.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Rubio sought to quell anxieties among his European counterparts as Trump’s tariffs take effect, the president mulls withdrawing from NATO altogether and U.S. support for Ukraine hangs in the balance.
    Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Anti-Diversity Policies: The U.S. State Department is seeking to quell a diplomatic tempest roiling Europe after several American Embassies sent letters to foreign contractors instructing them to certify their compliance with Trump’s policies aimed at unraveling diversity programs.
    Victoria Kim, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Now, Lionel Messi and Miami have ground to make up on their home pitch.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • On TV and in real life, the bastards were grinding us down.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Don't let the stress overwhelm the joy of the occasion—remember, some nerves are good!
    Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The fashion lover feels grateful to now have the freedom to explore her passions and chase her dreams — something that’s often out of reach when you're tied to a 9-5 job or overwhelmed by bills.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • For years, researchers have been experimenting with quantization techniques that squeeze their neural network weights into smaller memory envelopes.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Consumer confidence has taken a nosedive in 2025 as Americans grow more concerned that inflation could spike again, and tariffs will squeeze their wallets.
    Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The result is that what was once a star core becomes a stellar remnant with the mass of the sun crammed down in a diameter of around 12 miles (20 kilometers).
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Hundreds of thousands are crammed into squalid tent camps with dwindling food after Israel sealed off the territory from all imports more than a month ago.
    Isaac Scharf, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • There was the infamous time McMahon punished Triple H for hugging Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Shawn Michaels in the center of the ring at a house show, breaking kayfabe when this was something wrestlers didn't do.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Shelby Bottoms Greenway An oasis in Music City, this five-mile walking trail hugs the Cumberland River.
    Eva Fedderly, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • His unique passions and experiences lead him to create works that truly resonate with his audience.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • At age 14, Tom Schröder had no idea that his passion for sailing would lead him to an ocean odyssey spanning the globe.
    Katia Damborsky, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crush. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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