squeeze 1 of 2

verb

ˈskwēz How to pronounce squeeze (audio)
Definition of squeezenext
1
as in to crush
to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of kept squeezing the bottle until the ketchup squirted all over the table

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to cram
to fit (people or things) into a tight space I think we can squeeze a bit more into the washing machine

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to earn
to get with great difficulty managed to squeeze a living by cleaning houses

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to compress
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together squeezed the blanket until it fit into the box

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to pluck
to rob by the use of trickery or threats the mob squeezes all the local merchants by threatening violence

Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in to push
to force one's way I was able to squeeze through the people clustered around the luggage carousel

Synonyms & Similar Words

squeeze

2 of 2

noun

1
as in squeezing
the act or process of reducing the size or volume of something by or as if by pressing he gave the plastic bag a squeeze and then folded it up for storage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in darling
slang a person with whom one is in love she and her main squeeze are spending Valentine's Day at a romantic country inn

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 squeeze
Verb
The pest’s resurgence would squeeze the $130 billion US cattle industry, which is already struggling with a record-low herd and rising costs. —Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026 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, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
Instead of sugary or diet beverages, use a squeeze of citrus or even a splash of juice to flavor plain sparkling water. —Michael I Goran, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2026 The funding squeeze has already forced the United Nations to tighten spending across several agencies. —Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for squeeze
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squeeze
  1. crush
  2. cram
  3. earn
  4. compress
  5. pluck
  6. push
  7. squeezing
  8. darling
Verb
  • Put fennel seeds in a small, self-sealing plastic bag, and crush with a rolling pin.
    — Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Advanced Micro Devices stock was getting crushed — down more than 16% despite a beat and raise.
    — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of crush
Verb
  • The 31-year old Latin trap sensation, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio and who was born in the Puerto Rican metropole of Bayamón, crammed his halftime performance full of tributes to Latin-American culture and community.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Sentosa is a relatively small island but crammed with attractions.
    — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of cram
Verb
  • Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services.
    — USA Today staff, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Beyond her performances, Russo has earned critical recognition as a songwriter.
    — Kristen Wisneski, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of earn
Verb
  • None of these would form the loose, granular snow conditions that compress under skis on Earth and Pluto's gravity only makes things worse.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Theoretically, the plasmas collide in the fusion chamber and are compressed by magnets around the machine.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of compress
Verb
  • Over at Azur on Luminara, the menu reinvents itself every two days to mirror the port of call, like someone plucked the best taverna dishes off the coast and casually plated them in front of you.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
  • This is ideal for decades of sliding across the ice, because bigger mineral grains are more likely to get plucked out by the ice, leaving holes in the surface that could cause unpredictable behavior.
    — Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of pluck
Verb
  • The decisions centered around the dates for quarterfinal and semifinal games, as well as the move to push the championship game back to even further in January has drawn some backlash.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Its forecast for profit in the current quarter fell short of analysts' expectations as an industrywide shortage of memory pushes some handset makers to cut back on orders.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of push
Noun
  • Hassan’s team instead squeezed a photon’s intensity and demonstrated real-time control, fluctuating between intensity and phase-squeezing by adjusting the silica’s position relative to the beams.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025
Definition of squeezing
Noun
  • The action star and Marvel darling is featured in Amazon's Super Bowl ad for its new Alexa+ system alongside his wife Elsa Pataky.
    — Sarah Whitten,Sara Salinas,Sarah Jackson,Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Since its 2021 premiere, Hacks has been a major awards and critical darling, if not ratings giant, due to its sharp writing, superb performances and industry skewering.
    — Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of darling

Phrases Containing squeeze

Browse Nearby Words

squeamishness
squeeze
squeezed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Squeeze.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squeeze. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on squeeze

Nglish: Translation of squeeze for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

What does 'etcetera' mean?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?

Why Is the Letter ‘Z’ Associated With Sleeping?

The Words of the Week - Feb. 13

Why do we call it 'ides of March'?
See More

Popular

See More

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Did Orange the Fruit or the Color Come First?
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All