crush 1 of 2

1
as in to mash
to cause to become a pulpy mass dark-colored grapes that will be crushed to make red wine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
3
4
5
as in to squeeze
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

6
as in to cram
to fit (people or things) into a tight space the desperate refugees were crushed into the back of the truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

7

crush

2 of 2

noun

1
as in passion
a strong but often short-lived liking for another person fondly remembers the crush that she had on a boy one summer long ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

2

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun crush differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of crush are crowd, horde, mob, and throng. While all these words mean "an assembled multitude," crush emphasizes the compactness of the group, the difficulty of individual movement, and the attendant discomfort.

a crush of fans

When might crowd be a better fit than crush?

While the synonyms crowd and crush are close in meaning, crowd implies a close gathering and pressing together.

a crowd gathered

When is mob a more appropriate choice than crush?

The words mob and crush can be used in similar contexts, but mob implies a disorderly crowd with the potential for violence.

an angry mob

How do throng and horde relate to one another, in the sense of crush?

Both throng and horde suggest movement and pushing.

a throng of reporters
a horde of shoppers

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 crush
Verb
An superb athlete, Cruz can crush a ball, and has 15 home runs, Longest homer=463 feet, on April 23 against the Los Angeles Angels Current home total =16 Junior Caminero-Tampa Bay Rays Just 22-years-old, Caminero is making quite a name for himself in his first full season with the Rays. Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025 After a groundout to third in the sixth, Cabrera opened the ninth against closer Andrew Bailey with the Tigers down 5-3; Cabrera then crushed the third pitch of the at-bat to left again to get the Tigers within a run, but the next three batters went down, 1-2-3. Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 10 July 2025
Noun
Mariel Hemingway, as the daughter of an unscrupulous publishing tycoon, intent on taking over the Daily Planet, is allowed to develop a crush on Clark Kent, which remains both unrequited and unresolved by the film’s finish. Paul Mungo, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2025 Conversely, some of you might develop a crush on a boss or someone in power. Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 6 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for crush
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crush
Verb
  • Raleigh put on a show in the next semifinal, simply mashing balls into – and over – the right field grandstand.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 14 July 2025
  • Laureano is a bright spot in Baltimore’s disappointing offence, mashing 10 homers while playing all three outfield positions.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • After years of smoking to help quell her anxiety, Tish found that the drug only made things worse.
    Marina Watts, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • Don’t have a problem using the National Guard to quell rioting in Los Angeles, your anti-democracy.
    Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • This precise semiautomatic machine can grind your beans, push out balanced shots, and froth your milk.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 11 July 2025
  • The fact that everybody was there and everyone was grinding, there was that little extra motivation to really get this thing going.
    Vic Tafur, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • In greater numbers than ever, children hollowed up by hunger are overwhelming the Patient’s Friends Hospital, the main emergency center for malnourished kids in northern Gaza.
    Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2025
  • With no hemming required, each one of these matching sets won’t drag on the floor or overwhelm your small frame.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • In particular, the price of rice has doubled, squeezing many household budgets despite government handouts.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 20 July 2025
  • The Euro 2025 quarter-finals had late drama, with Italy squeezing past Norway, a comeback out of nowhere from England, and a farcical penalty shootout win over Sweden.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • Try to avoid cramming errands, intense planning or doomscrolling right before bed.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • There seems to be, in some superhero movies, cramming other people in because people like seeing these characters together.
    EW.com, EW.com, 18 July 2025
Verb
  • In this sweet, candid moment, Lopez hugs her babies while backstage on the Marry Me set.
    Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 24 July 2025
  • Mothers crying out loud for their children, and fathers hugging their children close to their chests.
    Troy Onyango, Time, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • Come for the hard news and stay for stuff that feeds your passions: top-shelf dining, sports and music content.
    Benjamin Goad, The Tennessean, 26 July 2025
  • After finishing her schooling, Laine worked in a variety of day jobs, although her passion for performing never wavered.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crush. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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