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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of crushes
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
For someone already carrying that kind of low-grade worry, a surprise $4,000 surgery bill is the type of shock that crushes a stable-looking budget.
—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
An Ice Shaver crushes ice into a snow-like texture for slushies, snow cones or cold drinks.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Lady Gaga, crushes, Tom Cruise, and movie theaters — the through-line for this week is obsession.
—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Ella Langley crushes internet troll.
—
David Hookstead Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
This time, though, he's already somewhat sidelined by the introduction of Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), and then he's stunningly killed during a fight with Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), who defeats him and crushes his head.
—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
As for Erik, his father’s decision crushes his whole identity.
—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
William crushes his cousin Ben (Alex Bhat) in a bear hug.
—
Lincee Ray,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Apr. 2026
Air Mail,
20 June 2026
The actor partnered with Hint to create a gardening thirst trap video inspired by his character in the early 2000s show, reigniting online crushes.
—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
The boys and girls wind up living across the hall from each other, and crushes and interpersonal drama bring them from frenemies to enemies and back again.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
The friend group quickly forms a complex web of crushes that expand the love triangle to new frontiers of geometry.
—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
2 June 2026
No more crushes, no more secret pacts.
—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
27 May 2026
Being single is the time for trying out new things and having crushes.
—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
26 May 2026
As for those online friends who supported her late into the night, talking about Kiyoko’s music and their secret crushes, Perez still thinks about them sometimes.
—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2026
Maybe crushes were happening, maybe not; none of my business.
—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
This mandate creates an environment that crushes most of the students it is intended to develop.
—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2026
For someone already carrying that kind of low-grade worry, a surprise $4,000 surgery bill is the type of shock that crushes a stable-looking budget.
—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
An Ice Shaver crushes ice into a snow-like texture for slushies, snow cones or cold drinks.
—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
Lady Gaga, crushes, Tom Cruise, and movie theaters — the through-line for this week is obsession.
—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Ella Langley crushes internet troll.
—
David Hookstead Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
This time, though, he's already somewhat sidelined by the introduction of Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), and then he's stunningly killed during a fight with Shao Kahn (Martyn Ford), who defeats him and crushes his head.
—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
As for Erik, his father’s decision crushes his whole identity.
—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
William crushes his cousin Ben (Alex Bhat) in a bear hug.
—
Lincee Ray,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
In between languid lake swims and sensual forest escapades, old crushes surface and new anxieties rear their heads in this deft portrait of millennial disenchantment.
—
Air Mail,
20 June 2026
The actor partnered with Hint to create a gardening thirst trap video inspired by his character in the early 2000s show, reigniting online crushes.
—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
4 June 2026
The boys and girls wind up living across the hall from each other, and crushes and interpersonal drama bring them from frenemies to enemies and back again.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
The friend group quickly forms a complex web of crushes that expand the love triangle to new frontiers of geometry.
—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
2 June 2026
No more crushes, no more secret pacts.
—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
27 May 2026
Being single is the time for trying out new things and having crushes.
—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
26 May 2026
As for those online friends who supported her late into the night, talking about Kiyoko’s music and their secret crushes, Perez still thinks about them sometimes.
—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2026
Maybe crushes were happening, maybe not; none of my business.
—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crushes
Verb
-
The Nike Air Max Joga Bonito R9 mashes up the boot Ronaldo wore for the 1998 World Cup with the Air Max 95.
-
Set to John Philip Sousa military marches, the zany spectacle mashes up a night at the Moulin Rouge with a Busby Berkeley extravaganza.
Verb
-
Nieusma notes that calendula grows low to the ground, forming a ground cover that shades the soil and suppresses weeds.
-
Healthy soil retains more water, cycles more nutrients and suppresses more pests, all work that conventional operations purchase as fertilizer, irrigation and insecticide.
Verb
-
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.
-
With a range of 50 to 300 kilometers, the drones, all made in Ukraine, are designed to throttle the Russian army’s logistics – adding a new dimension of strikes to Ukraine’s strategy as the war grinds through its fifth year.
Verb
-
Trends break, sentiment changes and, sometimes, market volatility overwhelms even the cleanest chart formations.
-
Money earned from chip sales abroad quickly flows out to buy stocks like Nvidia, creating persistent downward pressure on the won that overwhelms export gains.
Verb
-
With electric vehicles continuing to gain share, that further squeezes European carmakers.
-
At one point, the SUV squeezes past a traffic cone while making a left turn and narrowly avoids colliding with a large truck.
Verb
-
Throughout, visiting tourist Madeleine (Kristen Stewart) stuffs her face with every kind of meat, vegetable and carb while her father Phil (Woody Harrelson) is the one whose stomach miraculously swells.
-
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.
Verb
-
Costco opted to open a gas station only in a shopping center that hugs the 5 freeway at Oso Parkway.
-
Over the weekend, the alternate route, which hugs the Omani coast, was expanded to accommodate both inbound and outbound traffic.
Noun
-
Ultimately, major selection should reflect a student's true passions and future aspirations, requiring early self-reflection.
-
The content partnership will highlight the players’ point of view on basketball and off-court passions.
Cite this Entry
“Crushes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crushes. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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