Synonyms of press

press 1 of 3

noun

ˈpres 

1

as in pantry

a built-in space for storage behind a door

put the towels in the linen press

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pantry
• cupboard
• closet
• cuddy
• buttery
• larder
• cloakroom
• wardrobe
• vestiary
• coatroom
• spence
• ambry
• garderobe

2

as in throng

a great number of persons or creatures massed together

he pushed his way through the press of people outside the courthouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• throng
• crowd
• swarm
• flock
• horde
• mob
• crush
• mass
• army
• multitude
• legion
• masses
• host
• drove
• bike
• rout
• herd
• scrum
• cram
• millions
• rabble
• pile
• gaggle
• rabblement
• mountain
• heap
• jam
• riffraff
• logjam

3

as in cabinet

a storage case typically having doors and shelves

originally designed as a press for clothes, it now serves to hide the bedroom TV

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cabinet
• cupboard
• locker
• closet
• console
• buffet
• dresser
• secretary
• chest
• sideboard
• hutch
• showcase
• china closet
• bookcase
• credence
• credenza
• wardrobe
• pie safe
• vitrine
• breakfront
• armoire
• shelving
• clothespress
• taboret
• étagère
• cuddy
• cabinetry
• garderobe

press

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to seize

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

• seize
• grab
• confiscate
• claim
• occupy
• convert
• usurp
• steal
• appropriate
• preempt
• pirate
• arrogate
• assume
• annex
• snatch
• take over
• invade
• commandeer
• loot
• expropriate
• attach
• grasp
• collar
• impound
• wrench
• sequester
• encroach
• trespass
• pillage
• preoccupy
• repossess
• infringe
• despoil
• misuse
• wrest
• embezzle
• misapply
• peculate
• misappropriate

press

3 of 3

verb (2)

1

as in to shove

to push steadily against with some force

an old doorbell that requires you to press the button hard

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shove
• compress
• depress
• punch
• squeeze
• bear (down on)
• weigh (on or upon)
• force
• pressure
• mash
• thrust
• stuff
• compel
• muscle
• squash
• squish
• jam
• squoosh
• lean (on or against)
• crush
• propel
• compact
• wedge
• drive
• pack
• contract
• wring
• constrict
• scrunch
• condense
• cram
• jam-pack

2

as in to squeeze

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

• squeeze
• crush
• mash
• express
• extract
• pulp
• ream
• extrude
• puree

3

as in to huddle

to gather into a closely packed group

everyone pressed around me to see the pictures

Synonyms & Similar Words

• huddle
• crowd
• pile
• bunch
• assemble
• cluster
• flock
• swarm
• mob
• converge
• surround
• conglomerate
• herd
• collect
• concentrate
• hug
• throng
• convene
• congregate
• encircle
• concenter
• forgather
• embrace

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• split (up)
• break up
• disperse
• disband

4

as in to push

to force one's way

we continued to press deeper and deeper into the tangled rain forest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• push
• squeeze
• shove
• elbow
• muscle
• jam
• bull
• bore
• shoulder
• crash
• thrust
• jostle
• bulldoze
• ram

5

as in to force

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

• force
• compel
• coerce
• oblige
• pressure
• obligate
• drive
• muscle
• impress
• constrain
• blackmail
• dragoon
• intimidate
• sandbag
• make
• impel
• bully
• blackjack
• twist one's arm
• drag
• browbeat
• cow
• threaten
• shame
• high-pressure
• hector
• bulldoze
• badger
• menace
• hound
• terrorize
• harass

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• let
• permit
• allow
• move
• talk (into)
• argue
• win (over)
• induce
• convince
• satisfy
• persuade
• prevail (on or upon)

6

as in to urge

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

• urge
• encourage
• prompt
• push
• nudge
• egg (on)
• exhort
• spur
• goad
• prod
• coax
• propel
• stimulate
• pressure
• drive
• rush
• hurry
• implore
• provoke
• beseech
• hustle
• needle
• importune
• cajole
• wheedle
• high-pressure
• stir (up)
• soft-soap
• adjure
• nag
• incite
• foment
• instigate
• blandish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• discourage
• deter
• brake
• check
• restrain
• dissuade
• inhibit
• curb
• hold back
• constrain

7

as in to highlight

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

• highlight
• emphasize
• stress
• feature
• accent
• point (up)
• punctuate
• focus
• identify
• play up
• accentuate
• illuminate
• foreground
• bear down on
• promote
• make much of
• publicize
• advertise
• spotlight
• pinpoint
• plug
• boost
• overplay

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tone (down)
• play down
• minimize
• understate
• de-emphasize
• disparage
• discount
• underemphasize
• belittle

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of press

Noun

Anne Hathaway makes yet another stop on The Devil Wears Prada 2 press tour, this time at ABC Studios in New York City on April 27. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020, citing the unbearable intrusions of the British press and a lack of support from the palace. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2026

Verb

Justice Sonia Sotomayor pressed him on issues of due process, Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked why Congress would have barred review by the courts as broadly as the government asserts, while Justice Clarence Thomas asked about the role of Congress in limiting executive power. —Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026

Warren pressed a handgun underneath the driver’s body armor and removed the driver’s gun from a holster. —Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing press

• press (for)