as in overwhelming
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1
2
as in quelling
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
the government is doing everything to crush the latest guerrilla uprising
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in grinding
to reduce to fine particles
crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce
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4
as in devastating
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
the terrible news of her death simply crushed the entire family
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5
as in squeezing
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
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6
as in cramming
to fit (people or things) into a tight space
the desperate refugees were crushed into the back of the truck
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7
as in hugging
to put one's arms around and press tightly
she tearfully crushed the child to her breast
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crushing
Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
It was led by Yoshiko Noda, a staid veteran politician, who briefly served as an undistinguished prime minister in 2012 and led his party to a crushing defeat at the hands of Shinzo Abe and the LDP.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 15 Feb. 2026
Armstrong has recommended limiting the company to four one-week periods a year for crushing, and requiring it to meet with commissioners after the first year to evaluate any concerns.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
The Broncos suffered the kind of spirit-crushing defeat on Friday that had fans almost certain of the game result before the final buzzer sounded.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
Ilia Malinin’s collapse underscores the crushing psychological pressure of Olympic competition, which can turn childhood dreams into nightmares, even for elite athletes.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Your brain treats heartbreak like a physical injury That crushing feeling in your chest isn’t imaginary.
—Kyra Dahring, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Compounding the crushing disappointment was Dennis Hamlin’s declining health back home in Stanley, North Carolina.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2026
Not in crushing debt, but in rejecting American culture’s pervasive backward slide into premodern flimflam.
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
Safeguarding athletes But what about junior- and novice-level skaters, including those not even teenagers yet, who may get to revel in the soaring highs of hearing a good score but must also suffer through the soul-crushing lows of hearing a poor one?
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
It was led by Yoshiko Noda, a staid veteran politician, who briefly served as an undistinguished prime minister in 2012 and led his party to a crushing defeat at the hands of Shinzo Abe and the LDP.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 15 Feb. 2026
Armstrong has recommended limiting the company to four one-week periods a year for crushing, and requiring it to meet with commissioners after the first year to evaluate any concerns.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
The Broncos suffered the kind of spirit-crushing defeat on Friday that had fans almost certain of the game result before the final buzzer sounded.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
Ilia Malinin’s collapse underscores the crushing psychological pressure of Olympic competition, which can turn childhood dreams into nightmares, even for elite athletes.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Your brain treats heartbreak like a physical injury That crushing feeling in your chest isn’t imaginary.
—Kyra Dahring, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Compounding the crushing disappointment was Dennis Hamlin’s declining health back home in Stanley, North Carolina.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2026
Not in crushing debt, but in rejecting American culture’s pervasive backward slide into premodern flimflam.
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crushing
Adjective
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At peak periods, the lookout has drawn thousands of people a day, overwhelming narrow access roads and limited parking facilities.—
Trista Kurniawan,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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The bill passed through the legislature of a conservative state with overwhelming bipartisan support.—
Brad Quick,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For even more intense banana flavor, our Test Kitchen recommends roasting your bananas in their skins for 15 minutes in a 350ºF oven before peeling and mashing them.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Jan. 2026
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Nutrition experts recommend incorporating lentils into dishes such as pasta, soups, and salads, using them as a substitute for flour in baking, and mashing them into a dip or spread to enhance the nutritional quality of your diet.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In a statement broadcast by state TV, a security force known for quelling unrest accused terrorists of targeting military and law enforcement bases over the past two nights.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
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This potency can be a good thing for quelling inflammation—but also calls for caution.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Many came from grinding poverty and squalor.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
For Jones, doing his part meant observing, which led to at least four officers jumping on his back, handcuffing him, crushing his legs, and grinding his forehead into the frozen concrete.—
Evan Minsker,
Rolling Stone,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The front lobby of Unicoi County Hospital was wrecked by devastating flooding during Hurricane Helene in 2024.—
Brett Kelman,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
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While an eight-game winning run saw Cherki, Foden and Haaland hit their devastating best, three frustrating draws against Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion were characterised by wastefulness in front of goal.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The solar sector has been grappling with a prolonged price slump and oversupply, squeezing margins even as leading producers continue to add capacity.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
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For generations, Americans who wanted orange juice without the work of squeezing fresh fruit cracked open a can and watched a cylinder of frozen juice go ker-plunk into a pitcher.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Each story unfolds at a rapid pace, bouncing between provocative shots of eccentric people and cramming two distinct sets of warring neighbors into each half-hour episode.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
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With the current contact period, during which coaches can visit recruits, ending Saturday and the following period not starting until mid-April, his team was busy booking charter flights and cramming seven days' worth of visits into four or five days.—
Doug Gollan,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The new Fast & Furious coaster that has been revving its engines during test runs around the hillside-hugging track will soon get the green flag to officially start racing with thrill seekers on board at Universal Studios Hollywood.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
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Available in 19 versatile washes, these hip-hugging jeans gradually flare out to a bootcut leg.—
Cheryl Wagemann,
InStyle,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crushing. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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