Word
crushing
Phoneticscrush·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɹəʃɪŋ/
UK/kɹˈʌʃɪŋ/
Definitions
01overwhelming or total
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. used to describe a defeat or a force that is so strong it cannot be stopped.
adj. describing a force, defeat, or weight that is overwhelming or absolute in its power.
“The team suffered a crushing defeat in the final game of the season.”
“The candidate faced a crushing electoral loss, securing less than ten percent of the popular vote in her own district.”
Synonyms
02very disappointing
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. causing a feeling of great sadness or loss of hope.
adj. causing extreme disappointment, distress, or a sense of being emotionally overwhelmed.
“It was a crushing blow when he found out he didn't get the job.”
“The news of the project's cancellation was a crushing disappointment to the staff who had worked on it for years.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03the act of pressing
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Technical
n. the act of pressing something so hard that it breaks or changes shape.
n. the physical action of compressing or pulverising a substance through intense pressure.
“The crushing of the grapes is the first step in making this wine.”
“Industrial machinery is used for the crushing of ore to extract precious metals from the raw rock.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“All of those results pointed to a single moment of crushing impact by something heavy and fast-moving.” “By every metric available, the launch industry is crushing it: Prices have never been more competitive, launches never more frequent, and access to space never more rapid.” Etymology
By surface analysis, crush + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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