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
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Recent Examples of pressing
Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
It’s expected that the Chargers will shift Slaughter to left guard, filling one of their most pressing needs on the second day of the three-day draft.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026
But his finishing inside the arc has been perhaps an even more pressing concern against Minnesota.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Adjective
The masterful move addressed the Rams’ most pressing need and gave them a Super Bowl-ready roster.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
It’s expected that the Chargers will shift Slaughter to left guard, filling one of their most pressing needs on the second day of the three-day draft.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
Party insiders have been pressing Newsom to step in — either to consolidate support behind a credible contender or at least impose some order.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026
But his finishing inside the arc has been perhaps an even more pressing concern against Minnesota.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pressing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pressing
Adjective
-
The situation sparked immediate on-the-ground reporting from journalists across the media spectrum who took to social media platforms to deliver urgent reports.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan said people have reported to them and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center that they've been denied urgent and routine medical care over the past 10 months.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
After the primary autopsy, the coroner concluded Jackson's death was from acute Propofol intoxication, which caused the singer to go into cardiac arrest, NPR reported.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Almost half are personally afraid of losing their job to AI, ranking it among the most acute individual stressors measured in the survey.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pressing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pressing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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