impress 1 of 2

noun

Definition of impressnext
as in impression
a perceptible trace left by pressure the stamp left a smudgy impress on the paper

Synonyms & Similar Words

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impress

2 of 2

verb

im-ˈpres How to pronounce impress (audio)
1
as in to affect
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response impressed him with the intensity of their musical performance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to engrave
to produce a vivid impression of impressed the importance of safe driving habits by displaying photos of horrific crashes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to compel
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure after weeks of nagging, they impressed her into going to the masquerade party

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb impress differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of impress are affect, influence, strike, sway, and touch. While all these words mean "to produce or have an effect upon," impress stresses the depth and persistence of the effect.

only one of the plans impressed him

When is it sensible to use affect instead of impress?

The words affect and impress can be used in similar contexts, but affect implies the action of a stimulus that can produce a response or reaction.

the sight affected her to tears

When might influence be a better fit than impress?

Although the words influence and impress have much in common, influence implies a force that brings about a change (as in nature or behavior).

our beliefs are influenced by our upbringing

Where would strike be a reasonable alternative to impress?

The meanings of strike and impress largely overlap; however, strike, similar to but weaker than impress, may convey the notion of sudden sharp perception or appreciation.

struck by the solemnity of the occasion

When would sway be a good substitute for impress?

The words sway and impress are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sway implies the acting of influences that are not resisted or are irresistible, with resulting change in character or course of action.

politicians who are swayed by popular opinion

In what contexts can touch take the place of impress?

While the synonyms touch and impress are close in meaning, touch may carry a vivid suggestion of close contact and may connote stirring, arousing, or harming.

plants touched by frost
his emotions were touched by her distress

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 impress
Noun
Milton spent nearly all of last season as the Patriots’ third-stringer but did impress in Week 18. —Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 20 Mar. 2025 McIlroy and Morikawa impress but other big stars tumble World No. 2 McIlroy sits well within striking distance of a second Players title after shooting 68 to move to nine-under par. —Jack Bantock, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
Brian, who stumbled into the BLM movement to impress a girl, winds up at the center of a media frenzy. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025 One who has yet to impress much, however, is Venables. —Chase Goodbread, The Tennessean, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for impress
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impress
  1. impression
  2. affect
  3. engrave
  4. compel
  5. influence
  6. etch
  7. coerce
  8. impact
Noun
  • Twenty-seven years ago, Armageddon benefited from a marketing campaign that left a lasting impression.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2025
  • Older people often bring up how the U.S. helped Kosovo, and that left a strong impression.
    — Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of impression
Verb
  • Is There Any Correlation With Peer Earnings? Occasionally, the performance of peers can affect the stock reaction following earnings.
    — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Helps Protect from Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer's disease is a brain disease that affects memory and thinking.
    — Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 15 July 2025
Definition of affect
Verb
  • The special edition iPhone is limited to just seven units, with each one having a unique number engraved on it.
    — Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • First, there were delays in getting the stone engraved.
    — Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Definition of engrave
Verb
  • This fosters a competitive market where vendors are compelled to innovate on value, not by locking customers into their ecosystem.
    — Rajat Bhargava, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • American filmmakers are mostly hostile to the technology, citing intellectual property theft, strained labor relations, and the environmental impact of data farms — while Chinese creatives have been compelled to embrace the speed and ease of AI for innovation.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 18 July 2025
Definition of compel
Verb
  • However, such studies highlight how profoundly human activity can influence the entire planet.
    — David Bressan, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • When a professional athlete is paid to endorse a shoe company in a TV commercial or to influence a brand on social media, that too is use of NIL.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 July 2025
Definition of influence
Verb
  • Regardless of how the rest of Thornton’s career plays out, she’ll be forever etched in the Valkyries’ record books.
    — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 18 July 2025
  • The earworm of a theme song and classic scenes are etched into the very fiber of the park.
    — Megan duBois, Southern Living, 14 July 2025
Definition of etch
Verb
  • Witnesses testified about whether the original detective and prosecutor in his case had coerced them into testifying against Bell at his 1995 trial.
    — The Marshall Project, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025
  • The school board responded that the materials did no more than expose the children to new ideas, and that in any case nobody was being coerced.
    — Stephen L. Carter, Mercury News, 8 July 2025
Definition of coerce
Verb
  • Twenty-three drones impacted across seven locations, with falling debris reported in nine locations, the air force said.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 15 July 2025
  • In a video from the concert, Wonder pauses his show to speak to the audience about his personal life and how being blind has impacted his perception of the world around him.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 15 July 2025
Definition of impact

Browse Nearby Words

impresas
impress
impressed
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Cite this Entry

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

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