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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2
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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
But that’s assuming the Terminator-like CPU (or other players for that matter) don’t instantly crush your soul. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2025 The other wildcard for Apple is what Europe will do in the form of retaliatory measures for what Trump announced last Wednesday evening that crushed the stock market on Thursday and Friday. Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
The story follows a curly-haired high schooler determined to confess her feelings to her crush. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Apr. 2025 Pitfalls That Sink Family Offices (And Startups) Founder Syndrome: Principals who micromanage investments crush team morale—just like startup CEOs who code over engineers. Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crush
Verb
  • Judge mashed a Bassitt cutter that caught too much plate in Sunday’s second game, sending a home run to the right-field seats.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Only a few groups could find a way to mash up classic norteño, jazzy R&B, and country reggae in a single performance — Grupo Frontera is one of them.
    Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The mind games that are typically part of every Miami game were quelled by Vancouver’s fearless play.
    Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Those rumors were quelled a bit when Smith was traded for, but Las Vegas might still be making a play to land the star quarterback prospect.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Just grinding that long, and then to finally get back.
    David O'Brien, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
  • The place is a hit, though amid the music and revelry and sweaty bumping and grinding, Smoke and Stack have their hands full, making sure, for instance, that their patrons don’t try to pay for their drinks with wooden nickels.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 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
  • Medical services are overwhelmed by the number of those injured, including civilians.
    Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • Mike Pavlik, whose family lived across the alley behind ours and who was the leadoff batter on our softball team, squeezed my arm.
    David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 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 1 May. 2025.

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