crush
to press or squeeze with a force that destroys or deforms.
to squeeze or pound into small fragments or particles, as ore, stone, etc.
to force out by pressing or squeezing; extract: to crush cottonseeds in order to produce oil.
to rumple; wrinkle; crease.
to smooth or flatten by pressure: to crush leather.
to hug or embrace forcibly or strongly: He crushed her in his arms.
to destroy, subdue, or suppress utterly: to crush a revolt.
to overwhelm with confusion, chagrin, or humiliation, as by argumentation or a slighting action or remark; squelch.
to oppress grievously.
Archaic. to finish drinking (wine, ale, etc.).
to become crushed.
to advance with crushing; press or crowd forcibly.
the act of crushing; state of being crushed.
a great crowd: a crush of shoppers.
Informal.
an intense but usually short-lived infatuation with someone.
the object of such an infatuation: Who's your latest crush?
crush on, Informal. to have an infatuation with; have a crush on: She’s been crushing on him for a year.
Idioms about crush
crush it, Informal. to do something very well and with enthusiasm.
Origin of crush
1synonym study For crush
Other words for crush
Other words from crush
- crush·a·ble, adjective
- crush·a·bil·i·ty, noun
- crush·a·bly, adverb
- crusher, noun
- un·crush·a·ble, adjective
- un·crushed, adjective
- well-crushed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use crush in a sentence
Because there’s such an enormous crush of ads in Georgia, it’s hard to keep track of all the messaging.
A disgusting GOP attack ad shows what’s really at stake in Georgia | Greg Sargent | December 18, 2020 | Washington PostFoldable designs with included travel cases are another portable design feature that enables headphones to survive crushes and drops when you’re on the go, but they also free up space in your bag while ensuring that you always know where they are.
Best headphones: Get good-quality audio equipment at your budget | PopSci Commerce Team | December 17, 2020 | Popular-ScienceThe following Christmas came amid a crush of Lands’ End catalogues.
When my daughter asked if Santa was real, my answer was yes | Vanessa McGrady | December 17, 2020 | Washington PostFor example, lots of merchants and retailers began releasing their deals a lot earlier than usual, hoping that getting orders in earlier might help them avoid potential fulfillment problems caused by a crush of online orders.
‘We’re getting better at swarming the internet’: What publishers learned from the Cyber 5 | Max Willens | December 7, 2020 | DigidayAt one point she was sure she would pass out, and she was worried no ambulance would come for her in time because of the crush of calls in the city.
In a relentless pandemic, nursing-home workers are worn down and stressed out | Will Englund | December 3, 2020 | Washington Post
Our mockery of celebworld helps us evade the soul-crushing decadence concealed within.
Pyongyang Shuffle: Hollywood In Dead Panic Over Sony Hack | James Poulos | December 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTPro-pipeline Democrats, meanwhile, appeared to be searching desperately for ways to turn a crushing defeat into a moral victory.
Keystone Senate Failure Is Environmental Kabuki Theater | Ben Jacobs | November 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“[She] said that at one point I was too heavy, that I was crushing her,” Jonas says.
Nick Jonas Is All Grown Up, Clutching His Penis and Everything | Kevin Fallon | October 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHell, even Tom Brady has admitted to man-crushing on Derek Jeter.
The Captain’s Log: Derek Jeter’s Lady-Killing Past, From ‘Yeah, Jeets!’ to Gift Baskets | Emily Shire | September 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut the evidence that the “acting white” charge is about scholastics and not the hang of your pants is too crushing to ignore.
With breaking shall the earth be broken, with crushing shall the earth be crushed, with trembling shall the earth be moved.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | VariousThat's the crushing kind of repertoire he gives his pupils—so exhaustive and complete in every department.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayOn him, and on him alone, falls the crushing onus of responsibility: to be a Corps Commander is child's play in that comparison.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I | Ian HamiltonA crushing machine, now called "quartz-crusher," also formed part of this additional order.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickIt was a disappointment to the Americans who had looked forward to inflicting a decisive and crushing defeat on the enemy.
The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
British Dictionary definitions for crush (1 of 2)
/ (krʌʃ) /
to press, mash, or squeeze so as to injure, break, crease, etc
to break or grind (rock, ore, etc) into small particles
to put down or subdue, esp by force: to crush a rebellion
to extract (juice, water, etc) by pressing: to crush the juice from a lemon
to oppress harshly
to hug or clasp tightly: he crushed her to him
to defeat or humiliate utterly, as in argument or by a cruel remark
(intr) to crowd; throng
(intr) to become injured, broken, or distorted by pressure
a dense crowd, esp at a social occasion
the act of crushing; pressure
a drink or pulp prepared by or as if by crushing fruit: orange crush
informal
an infatuation: she had a crush on him
the person with whom one is infatuated
Origin of crush
1Derived forms of crush
- crushable, adjective
- crushability, noun
- crusher, noun
British Dictionary definitions for crush (2 of 2)
/ (krʌʃ) /
vet science a construction designed to confine and limit the movement of an animal, esp a large or dangerous animal, for examination or to perform a procedure on it
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with crush
see have a crush on.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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