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2
as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
the government is doing everything to crush the latest guerrilla uprising
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grind
to reduce to fine particles
crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to overwhelm
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
the terrible news of her death simply crushed the entire family
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
6
7
as in to hug
to put one's arms around and press tightly
she tearfully crushed the child to her breast
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in swarm
a great number of persons or creatures massed together
the huge crush in the store must have far exceeded safety limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of crush
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Against odds that could have crushed the season, including low consumer confidence and lower-than-usual inventory levels, Adobe Analytics identified several trends that set 2025’s holiday season apart—and drove such robust online spending.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 31 Dec. 2025
The location Al Moudira sits on a vast patch of farmland on the Nile's west bank, about 20 minutes from the Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum, and Valley of the Kings, but entirely apart from the tour bus and cruise ship crush of central Luxor.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for crush
Verb
In February, he and the Chiefs were crushed by Barkley and the Eagles in the 2025 Super Bowl.
—Noun
The city is expecting a crush of spectators for a riverfront fireworks show at Navy Pier.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for crush
Verb
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Not always is a slugger who can mash 50-plus home runs in a season available on the open market, and nearly every team that wants more power in its lineup will be targeting the 32-year-old.—
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The album is front of mind for Yorke, who recently worked on the stage production of Hamlet Hail to the Thief (which mashes up the album and the Shakespeare play) and the surprise live album Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003–2009) was released earlier this year.—
Verb
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There are glimpses of a backstage farce, with Nora trying to use a quickie with her married stage-manager lover (longtime Trier regular Anders Danielsen Lie) to quell a panic attack on opening night, then threatening to bolt.—
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The move seemed to surprise Fallon, who naturally tried to quell her tears by shouting at her.—
Verb
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And Robbins isn’t alone in translating an early—and humble—grind into success.—
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Downtown tunnel closures The rail grinding project will also be coordinated with the weekend closures of the Downtown subway tunnel to combine efforts in the area and reduce the impact on riders.—
Verb
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Duncyte, the master’s student from Lithuania, said she was immediately overwhelmed by Colorado’s beauty and wildlife.—
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Families will drop their plans, get sicker and even die without essential treatment, and hospitals will be overwhelmed with untreated people coming to the emergency room.—
Verb
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The Panthers squeezed a few end-of-career seasons out of guys such as Dino Ciccarelli and Igor Larionov.—
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Instead, 2026 is about building both stylish and sensible outfits that can take you from the airport to the streets with maximum versatility without ever squeezing into tight, form-fitting fabric.—
Verb
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The company had hundreds of hours of sports to sell last year, with a February that is crammed with Olympics telecasts, Super Bowl programming and NBA matches.—
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Couples cooped up in one-bedroom apartments would seek two-bedrooms, and parents with kids crammed into two-bedrooms would crave more space in three-bedrooms.—
Verb
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After Beck’s winning TD an assistant coach on the sideline hugged Cristobal from behind but the head coach broke free and wanted none if that -- because Ole Miss and gifted QB Trinidad Chambliss had the ball left without about a half-minute left.—
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In January 2025, Lane posted a photo on Instagram of himself hugging Layla and wishing her a happy birthday.—
Noun
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Eventually, his parents surrendered to his passion for figure skating.—
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Collegial car vibes For many of the program’s students, the schooling offers a chance to professionalize their passion.—
Cite this Entry
“Crush.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crush. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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