1
2
as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
the government is doing everything to crush the latest guerrilla uprising
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grind
to reduce to fine particles
crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
the terrible news of her death simply crushed the entire family
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
6
7
as in to hug
to put one's arms around and press tightly
she tearfully crushed the child to her breast
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in swarm
a great number of persons or creatures massed together
the huge crush in the store must have far exceeded safety limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of crush
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Mad About the Boy picks up four years after the crushing death of Bridget’s true love, Mark Darcy, played by swoon-worthy Colin Firth, leaving Bridget navigating life as a single mother with their two young children.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 8 June 2025
Abigail Lee, Variety, 6 June 2025
In 2024, California’s wine grape harvest fell to its lowest volume in two decades, with a total crush of just 2.8 million tons—a 23% drop from the previous year.
—Rachel King, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for crush
Verb
The momentum swing and crushing nature of this dire situation would have finished off lesser players.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Mad About the Boy picks up four years after the crushing death of Bridget’s true love, Mark Darcy, played by swoon-worthy Colin Firth, leaving Bridget navigating life as a single mother with their two young children.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 8 June 2025
Noun
Similarly, Coughlan taps into a universal feeling when Penelope asks her childhood friend and longtime crush, Colin Bridgerton, to kiss her.
—Abigail Lee, Variety, 6 June 2025
In 2024, California’s wine grape harvest fell to its lowest volume in two decades, with a total crush of just 2.8 million tons—a 23% drop from the previous year.
—Rachel King, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for crush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crush
Verb
-
Crow-Armstrong certainly doesn’t mash like some of the top sluggers, at least distance-wise.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2025
-
The Mets mashed 17 hits while the Rockies had 10, but a bunch of the Rockies’ hits came well after the game was decided.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Trump sent National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to help quell the unrest over the weekend, against California Governor Gavin Newsom's wishes.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
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Sending National Guard troops into a municipality to quell disturbances is not a solution in a free society.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2025
Verb
-
The nation’s court system has been ground zero for pushback to President Donald Trump’s sweeping conservative agenda, with about 200 lawsuits filed challenging policies on everything from immigration to education to mass layoffs of federal workers.—
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2025
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While the Bruins took care of some key business in the hiring of new head coach Marco Sturm, the team’s scouting and management staffs have been been grinding through some planning for the future that is just as vital as the next coach.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
6 June 2025
Verb
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For example, colorful hardware in a small kitchen with a lot of cabinets can overwhelm the space with visual clutter rather than color.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2025
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Almost immediately, the new facility was overwhelmed: Between the year of its founding and 1887, 44 percent of the women admitted into San Clemente were pellagrous.—
Asia London Palomba,
Smithsonian Magazine,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
In some towns, utility poles were removed so the caravans could squeeze through.—
Angela Jackson,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
Hundreds of people squeezed into the Jewish Community Center in Boulder, Colo., for a vigil that featured prayer, singing and emotional testimony from a victim and witnesses of the firebombing attack in the city’s downtown, after a federal judge blocked the deportation of the suspect’s family.—
Colleen Slevin,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Verb
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The city’s extensive labyrinth of catacombs was nearby as well, underground ossuaries crammed full of the skeletal remains of millions of Parisians.—
Anelise Chen
June 3,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2025
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Open spaces and gardens were crammed with cane, cacti, fig trees and pigeon coos.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
Verb
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They obviously didn't get hugged enough as children –either of them.—
Steve Inskeep,
NPR,
6 June 2025
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Hand 103, Bethel, 102 ½. There was bedlam, Hand kids screaming and jumping and yelling and hugging each other.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Everyone was truly invested in this adaptation and each and everyone brought part of their own passion in this project.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
8 June 2025
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His studies at the University of Cambridge's Christ's College from 1828 to 1831 encouraged his passion for natural science.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crush. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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