as in urgent
needing immediate attention
she had pressing business on the other side of town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in seizing
to take or make use of under a guise of authority but without actual right
the fleeing bank robber pressed a nearby taxi into service as a getaway car
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in shoving
to push steadily against with some force
an old doorbell that requires you to press the button hard
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in squeezing
to apply external pressure on so as to force out the juice or contents of
my family will only drink juice from freshly pressed oranges
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in huddling
to gather into a closely packed group
everyone pressed around me to see the pictures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
5
as in forcing
to cause (a person) to give in to pressure
a manager pressed by a business crisis to return from his vacation ahead of schedule
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in urging
to try to persuade (someone) through earnest appeals to follow a course of action
pressed us to go with them to the school board meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in highlighting
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on
an office e-mail that presses the need for greater vigilance concerning building security
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pressing
Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 7 Jan. 2026
At Tuesday’s committee meeting, Caputo said the payment was to address the organization’s most pressing needs through mid-March.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026
Oily stains can be absorbed by pressing a slice of white bread to the spot to absorb the oil.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Adjective
More pressing was the possibility of being sued for civil trespass, which comes with a minimum fine of $100, but potentially tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees.
—Verb
And Jordan Goldstein, the co-CEO of global architecture firm Gensler, runs through all his messaging platforms to check which matters are pressing and which can wait for a response.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressing
Adjective
-
And there is another urgent area requiring our attention.—
-
The administration’s enthusiasm to improve America’s health has real, urgent promise.—
Adjective
-
While these changes will impact the country as a whole, the effect here in Indiana could be particularly acute, environmentalists say.—
-
On January 5, less than one week after Tatiana died at just 35 years old of acute myeloid leukemia on December 30, Jack honored her with several moving quotes—including one from Tatiana herself.—
Cite this Entry
“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressing. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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