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.
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Recent Examples of pressing
Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The Iranian nuclear threat remains the most pressing issue.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
The more pressing concern, in Ember’s mind at least, was that the sovereignty of her summer was this very moment coming to an end.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Adjective
With rising costs and complex household arrangements, the issue of which parent can claim a child as a dependent has become more pressing because Americans are trying to maximize their tax return.
—Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The Iranian nuclear threat remains the most pressing issue.
—Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
Your 12th House of Solitude and your 9th House of Curiosity are in conflict under today’s Moon-Jupiter square, potentially pressing pause on upcoming plans.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
The more pressing concern, in Ember’s mind at least, was that the sovereignty of her summer was this very moment coming to an end.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressing
Adjective
-
Pundits say the public is too divided, the issues too technical, and the competition with China too urgent for democracy.—
Justin Rosenstein,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Decisions move farther from classrooms, reforms take longer to implement and urgent problems become administrative processes.—
Daniel L Gordon,
Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Take, for example, radiation, which with moderate exposures can increase an astronaut’s long-term risk of cancer and with heavy doses can cause acute sickness.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
-
His masterful short stories revolve around distinctive characters with profound empathy and acute detail.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressing. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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