1
2
as in suppresses
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 grinds
to reduce to fine particles
crushed the baby's medicine tablet and mixed it with applesauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in overwhelms
to subject to incapacitating emotional or mental stress
the terrible news of her death simply crushed the entire family
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5
6
7
as in hugs
to put one's arms around and press tightly
she tearfully crushed the child to her breast
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in passions
a strong but often short-lived liking for another person
fondly remembers the crush that she had on a boy one summer long ago
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2
as in swarms
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
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Recent Examples of crushes
Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
And while many television shows about teenagers tend to focus on physical appearance, crushes, and drama, this series explores how the characters learn to embrace and use their own unique gifts, to work collaboratively, and solve problems that require critical thinking.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 8 Dec. 2025
Hays also crushes left-handed pitching.
—Kansas City Star, 7 Dec. 2025
McNulty briefly appeared as Vickie in season 4, playing a band geek who Hawke's Robin crushes on.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Nov. 2025
On the personal relationships side this season, Will is heavily implied to be gay and have feelings for Mike, while Robin crushes on a girl named Vickie (Amybeth McNulty) and starts bonding with her in the finale.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025
Its got an 8-core GPU that crushes graphics, and Apple Intelligence which upgraded my writing and photo editing.
—PC Magazine, 18 Nov. 2025
The powerful four-blade blender blends, mixes, and crushes its way through ice, frozen fruit, and more.
—Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2025
This Halloween, step into stories where science meets terror, where contagions kill, landscapes devour explorers, and technology crushes the human soul.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2025
Pour yourself into your poetry, your crushes, your late-night brainstorms.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 Nov. 2025
Bachelorette Preview Bullet Points • Taylor’s got some crushes.
—Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Licensed psychotherapist Lucas Saiter agreed that a decline in crushes is common in adulthood.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Fast forward, 20 years later, and Swift is not a little girl anymore, and her music isn’t about little girl crushes and worries.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 3 Oct. 2025
The series starred Ben Savage as Cory Matthews navigating his family, high school and his crushes.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Eric and his friend Brian both have crushes on a girl, Sarah (Amélie Hoeferle).
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2025
That we’re allowed to lean into the crushes and cravings of the teenage girl that still lives inside all of us.
—Olivia Petter, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
Diaz leaving town crushes the Mets' bullpen going forward.
—Noun
Having harbored secret crushes on each other at the time, the two might get a second chance at romance as they are reunited years later when Tyler crosses paths with Bode.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for crushes
Verb
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Their perilous journey takes them to a cabin where all hell soon breaks loose, as Tarantino mashes up various genres, from classic Westerns to claustrophobic thrillers.—
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The Adidas Superstar Predator mashes up its flagship soccer cleat with the classic sneaker that’s even older.—
Verb
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When enforcement actions sweep through a community, fear suppresses economic activity almost overnight.—
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Plus, the blue light our devices emit suppresses melatonin, the hormone connected to sleep regulation.—
Verb
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But Kingstown grinds him up through the prison riots, through being fired from his job to accidentally being responsible for the death of his mother.—
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But Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby mustered just two shot attempts apiece, spending their time watching idly as the Knicks offense incessantly grinds into a standstill.—
Verb
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The scent is beautifully soft—a gentle blend of leather, iris, and jasmine that never overwhelms the room.—
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Much of the first half of the novel is given over to claustrophobic atmosphere that overwhelms the wide open country all around them.—
Verb
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As the moon follows an elliptical path, Saturn’s gravity stretches and squeezes it.—
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View gallery - 12 images This recently completed tiny house squeezes a lot of living space into a compact footprint using clever design.—
Verb
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The green zone is a band of territory that hugs much of Gaza’s eastern perimeter and includes other areas seized through months of Israeli ground operations.—
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As Dustin sobs, Steve hugs him, finally understanding why Dustin has been protecting himself from getting hurt again by putting up a hostile front.—
Noun
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At 6 years old, gymnastics is one of her greatest passions.—
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Revolutionary France tried to recruit American passions for European wars.—
Noun
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The 236-foot former drug-runner ship Hilma Hooker offers one of the most impressive wreck dives in the region, though the vertical walls at The Cliff, vibrant reefs at Sweet Dreams, and swarms of sealife at Salt Pier are just as unforgettable.—
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The system uses several 50 kW industrial laser units to create a single powerful beam that kills drone swarms, cruise missiles, and fast-moving threats from a long distance.—
Cite this Entry
“Crushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crushes. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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