Definition of pushingnext

pushing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of push
1
2
as in squeezing
to force one's way we had to push our way through a crowd that was mostly headed in the opposite direction

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pushing
Adjective
The weight limit was a necessary move to equalize race conditions and curb the use of athletic specialists who, although not bobsledders, have in the past proven decisive in their teams’ success through the pushing phase. Alessio Caprodossi, Wired News, 15 Feb. 2026 Musk plunged into a controversy of his own making after tweeting and deleting a post pushing baseless allegations about the attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Hamza Shaban, Washington Post, 4 Nov. 2022
Verb
The abdomen may significantly protrude, pushing the diaphragm upward and making breathing more difficult. Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 3 July 2026 Basically, the silicone cup creates suction around the area in question and you’re given a massage via pulling instead of pushing. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026 This girl in front of me backed up and started pushing her butt against my crotch. Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 These changes are the result of fierce competition between a handful of major brands, each pushing the game, and the athletes’ speed, power, and physics-defying spin, forward. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 The strongest brands increasingly win not by pushing product harder, but by creating environments people want to belong to. Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Not really surprised, either, that the Celtics couldn’t get four firsts for Brown when the whole league knew the C’s were pushing to move on from their star forward. David Aldridge, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Late-stage trial results from Cosmo Pharmaceuticals, Pelage Pharmaceuticals and Veradermics are now pushing new options toward pharmacy shelves, with one program already pursuing parallel approval in the United States and Europe. Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026 Currently, the company is pushing for the NHTSA to relax two rules. Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pushing
Adjective
  • Its young people are increasingly educated and ambitious but many are frustrated over fierce competition for limited jobs.
    Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • Each scoop lifted tons of earth and rock as engineers raced to complete one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in history.
    Malika Bowling, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Adjective
  • The tribe wants to build a travel center on the land along a busy highway on Long Island.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Because Saturday is typically the busiest day for car sales, most dealerships remain open then and close on Sundays instead.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The fallout continues from Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas shoving her fist into Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark's throat, and now one of the league's greatest players, Lisa Leslie, is giving her two cents.
    Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
  • Marina Mabrey — while playing for the Connecticut Sun last season — received a technical for shoving Clark to the floor in a June 17, 2025, game.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Of course, attempts to get more revenue out of taxpayers would carry political risks, but voters have been open to squeezing the wealthy.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 28 June 2026
  • Coach Spencer Carbery has done a masterful job of both squeezing what’s left out of the franchise’s best-ever player — Ovechkin led the Caps in both goals (32) and points (64) in 2025-26 — while simultaneously masking the deficiencies that come with age.
    Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • After graduating, however, the aspiring model yearned for independence and decided to fund her own college education and apartment.
    Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 2 July 2026
  • And yet Webster’s dictionary, and his earlier attempts at spelling reform, expressed a radical desire to forge an entirely new tongue based in the vernacular genius of the aspiring American people.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Also boosting demand and driving ticket prices for Saturday’s game is the fact that 41-year-old superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 669 million Instagram followers, is captain of the Portuguese team and has said this World Cup will be his last, making each appearance a high-profile event.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 28 June 2026
  • Tire pressure sensors are vital to a vehicle’s health, especially when driving on pothole and junk-laden Atlanta streets.
    Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • This involves pressing down on the ice cream to remove air bubbles.
    Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026
  • Most believe that the federal government is too slow to address pressing issues in their districts.
    Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Because the preliminary Iran deal leaves key details unresolved, further negotiations virtually ensure the agreement remains in flux through the election season — potentially thrusting the talks into the center of the presidential primary campaign.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
  • Like the tip of a spear thrusting from the London skyline, The Shard has become an appealing landmark for filmmakers over the years.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pushing. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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