pressurized

[presh-uh-rahyzd]

adjective

1. brought to and maintained at an atmospheric pressure higher than that of the surroundings.

   cooking with pressurized steam.

2. maintained at an air pressure comfortable for breathing.

   a pressurized cabin and cockpit; a pressurized suit for diving.

3. Informal.,  subject or subjected to undue pressure or harassment.

   the pressurized milieu of big business.

Other Word Forms

• unpressurized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pressurized¹

First recorded in 1935–40; pressurize + -ed ²

Example Sentences

The sole stairway itself must either be pressurized to keep out the smoke or open air.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Marshals Service to take her hand-held pressurized piercing instrument into the courtroom.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Headwinds from newly imposed tariffs have pressurized global supply chains and layered additional complications” on First Brands’ operations, its bankruptcy filing states.

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Oklo’s liquid sodium-cooled fast reactors use sodium as a heat transfer liquid and coolant, which allows them to operate at high temperatures without being pressurized, unlike conventional reactors.

Read more on Barron's

According to a court filing from the company’s chief restructuring officer, recent “geopolitical uncertainty and headwinds from newly imposed tariffs have pressurized global supply chains and layered additional complications on the company’s operations.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal