as in urgent
needing immediate attention
she had pressing business on the other side of town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in seizing
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
the fleeing bank robber pressed a nearby taxi into service as a getaway car
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in shoving
to push steadily against with some force
an old doorbell that requires you to press the button hard
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in squeezing
to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of
my family will only drink juice from freshly pressed oranges
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in huddling
to gather into a closely packed group
everyone pressed around me to see the pictures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in forcing
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
a manager pressed by a business crisis to return from his vacation ahead of schedule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in urging
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
pressed us to go with them to the school board meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in highlighting
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
an office e-mail that presses the need for greater vigilance concerning building security
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 pressing
Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
The more pressing question, says Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar, is whether companies can capture the enormous value that AI already offers.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Use freezer-safe, airtight containers or heavy-duty zip-top bags, pressing out excess air before sealing.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Adjective
Aside from potentially pressing pause on the exhausting narratives about Antekokounmpo's future, his injury could have on-court benefits for the Bucks as well.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
The more pressing question, says Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar, is whether companies can capture the enormous value that AI already offers.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
Cuban-American business and philanthropist Mike Fernandez said efforts for Brothers to the Rescue prosecutions are a distraction from other pressing issues Miami voters are facing.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Use freezer-safe, airtight containers or heavy-duty zip-top bags, pressing out excess air before sealing.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressing
Adjective
-
Griffiths and Smith meet on Zoom, spending the first 15 to 20 minutes talking through current challenges, followed by a 30- to 40-minute hypnotherapy session to specifically target her urgent issues.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The family's latest message as the urgent search for Nancy Guthrie enters its eighth day.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The death certificate listed Fisher’s cause of death as septic shock, a bacterial infection, acute kidney failure and pneumonia.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Though the consequences of the cold have been widespread and acute—travel disruptions, power outages and scores of deaths—the warm western winter will also take a toll.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressing. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
