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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Annika Pham, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Josh lights several candles and crushes some Viagra in preparation for the arrival of one Alexis, but when the doorbell rings, there is no beautiful 26-year-old waiting for him.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
William crushes his cousin Ben (Alex Bhat) in a bear hug.
—Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
Because these drugs are so precious, new antibiotics are deliberately held in reserve to slow the emergence of resistance, a practice known as stewardship that benefits future patients but crushes commercial prospects.
—Henry Skinner, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026
Early voting crushes record in Texas Early voting in Texas smashed records.
—From Staff Reports, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
Or perhaps you will be filled with private thoughts, fantasies and crushes about someone.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Nvidia crushes earnings; Wall Street shrugs Nvidia delivered absolutely blockbuster results in the final three months of 2025, as demand for its AI chips went through the roof.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Behind her closed door, Bree takes out the data card with Lucy’s confession and crushes it with a stapler.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
Just know that secret crushes, behind-the-scenes flirtations and late-night conversations could steal your attention during this time.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Maddox Batson, at just 16, is the latest, drawing comparisons to young Justin Bieber with his songs about middle-school crushes and country living.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
High Fidelity distills adolescence down to its core tent poles of crushes and music.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
That seemingly unromantic shift towards feeling more like roommates than crushes isn’t inherently bad.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 8 Apr. 2026
Tell your friends, parents, crushes and foes that the Chronicle’s Top 100 is back.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Mar. 2026
From orange crushes to signature cocktails and even a running hot dog competition behind the bar, Section 771 pulls out all the stops for the season opener.
—Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
The world was first introduced to Saoirse-Monica Jackson as the awkward and expressive schoolgirl Erin Quinn in Derry Girls, navigating Troubles-era Northern Ireland and its conflict with the same fervor as her crushes, convent school, and cringe-inducing teenage chaos.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
As for Erik, his father’s decision crushes his whole identity.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Josh lights several candles and crushes some Viagra in preparation for the arrival of one Alexis, but when the doorbell rings, there is no beautiful 26-year-old waiting for him.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
William crushes his cousin Ben (Alex Bhat) in a bear hug.
—Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
Because these drugs are so precious, new antibiotics are deliberately held in reserve to slow the emergence of resistance, a practice known as stewardship that benefits future patients but crushes commercial prospects.
—Henry Skinner, STAT, 5 Mar. 2026
Early voting crushes record in Texas Early voting in Texas smashed records.
—From Staff Reports, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
Or perhaps you will be filled with private thoughts, fantasies and crushes about someone.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Nvidia crushes earnings; Wall Street shrugs Nvidia delivered absolutely blockbuster results in the final three months of 2025, as demand for its AI chips went through the roof.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Behind her closed door, Bree takes out the data card with Lucy’s confession and crushes it with a stapler.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
Short fiction, a novel about young adult crushes and an amazing Minnesota musician’s memoir will brighten your spring reading.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
Just know that secret crushes, behind-the-scenes flirtations and late-night conversations could steal your attention during this time.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Maddox Batson, at just 16, is the latest, drawing comparisons to young Justin Bieber with his songs about middle-school crushes and country living.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
High Fidelity distills adolescence down to its core tent poles of crushes and music.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Apr. 2026
That seemingly unromantic shift towards feeling more like roommates than crushes isn’t inherently bad.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 8 Apr. 2026
Tell your friends, parents, crushes and foes that the Chronicle’s Top 100 is back.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Mar. 2026
From orange crushes to signature cocktails and even a running hot dog competition behind the bar, Section 771 pulls out all the stops for the season opener.
—Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
The world was first introduced to Saoirse-Monica Jackson as the awkward and expressive schoolgirl Erin Quinn in Derry Girls, navigating Troubles-era Northern Ireland and its conflict with the same fervor as her crushes, convent school, and cringe-inducing teenage chaos.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crushes
Verb
-
Set to John Philip Sousa military marches, the zany spectacle mashes up a night at the Moulin Rouge with a Busby Berkeley extravaganza.—
Rachel Howard,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Cheaper pruners use a blade and anvil — essentially one sharp blade that mashes the branch against a flat surface.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mulch helps retain soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and regulates soil temperature, says Putnam.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Its response is an intelligent chassis control system that actively suppresses instability during towing.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The production, directed with the brooding fluidity that is David Cromer’s calling card, is most alive in the evolving dynamic between Nick and Jacki, whose romance happens by degrees then all at once before reality intervenes and the criminal justice bureaucracy grinds to a halt.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The Food Processor quickly chops, slices, and shreds a wide array of ingredients for unlimited culinary creations, while the Coffee & Spice Grinder efficiently grinds coffee beans, spices, and herbs for superior flavor and potency.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To better understand the technicals, resistance happens when supply from sellers overwhelms demand from buyers, and the stock struggles to appreciate further; the opposite is true of support, which happens when demand from buyers overwhelms supply from sellers, and the stock tends to move higher.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
-
At the scale of ⁴²Ar, that interference completely overwhelms the signal, keeping it out of reach.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened economy by denying it long-term cash flow.—
Michelle L. Price,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The waves, which were first used in Boston in 2011, help spread things out so that runners don’t have to walk after the start, when Main Street in Hopkinton squeezes to just 39 feet wide.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At home, Jonathan Wright, director of the Indianapolis art museum's park and gardens, stuffs in the plants, stacks the pots, and lets everything grow.—
Teresa Woodard,
Midwest Living,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Tyler Cameron happily stuffs his face at the launch of Panera's new salad stuffers during an intimate dinner in New York.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Not only does the material ensure comfort and support, but the unique design, with thick straps that curve to the exact shape of my arches and a cupped heel, creates a glove-like fit that hugs my feet.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Slim planter beds along fences operate on the same principle, replacing bulky garden beds with streamlined growing space that hugs the perimeter and keeps the center of the garden open and breathable.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Diaries confirm that life is in the details, and in its passions, all of which Ford includes, all of which are inevitably subservient to time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Heating and cooling furnaces and AC units didn’t ignite Gabe Ashbach’s passions.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crushes. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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