pressure
noun
pres·sure
| \ ˈpre-shər
\
\
Definition of pressure
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: the burden of physical or mental distress
b
: the constraint of circumstance : the weight of social or economic imposition
2
: the application of force to something by something else in direct contact with it : compression
4a
: the action of a force against an opposing force
b
: the force or thrust exerted over a surface divided by its area
5
: the stress or urgency of matters demanding attention : exigency
people who work well under pressure
6
: the force of selection that results from one or more agents and tends to reduce a population of organisms
population pressure predation pressure
7
: the pressure exerted in every direction by the weight of the atmosphere
8
: a sensation aroused by moderate compression of a body part or surface
pressure
verb
pressured;
pressuring\ ˈpre-sh(ə-)riŋ
\
\
Definition of pressure (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms for pressure
Synonyms: Noun
Synonyms: Verb
blackjack, coerce, compel, constrain, dragoon, drive, force, impel, impress, make, muscle, obligate, oblige, press, sandbag
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Examples of pressure in a Sentence
Noun
Apply pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. the pressure of the compressed air inside the chamber The animal's jaws can exert a pressure of more than 750 pounds per square inch. The horse will respond to the slightest pressure of a rider's knee. The fruit yields to gentle pressure when it's ripe. the normal air pressure at sea level He gave in to the social pressures to act and dress like everybody else. She felt a constant pressure to earn more money.Verb
his father pressured him to go out for the swim team
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Truex began to exert some pressure after sitting behind Elliott for more than 10 laps in the final segment. — John Kekis, BostonGlobe.com, "Chase Elliott wins at Watkins Glen for second straight year," 4 Aug. 2019 In one approach, known as inertial confinement fusion, or ICF, intense pulses of laser light are used to compress a tiny pellet of fuel in an attempt to reach temperatures and pressures comparable to the interiors of stars. — Mark Buchanan, Twin Cities, "Mark Buchanan: The great, maddening promise of fusion energy," 4 Aug. 2019 The site, Brennan said, is kept online largely as a vanity project for Watkins and makes very little money, helping shield it from advertiser or public pressure. — Anchorage Daily News, "3 mass shootings this year began with a hateful screed on 8chan, whose founder calls it a terrorist refuge in plain sight," 4 Aug. 2019 Still, even in the absence of government intervention, there are other pressures that can be brought to bear. — Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, "The El Paso Shooting and the Virality of Evil," 4 Aug. 2019 Indeed, even without Ford and Buckner for part of camp, the defensive line has generated consistent pressure. — Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, "49ers’ practice report: Even without Ford, defense dominates again," 4 Aug. 2019 Residents may experience a temporary drop in water pressure and water may become slightly discolored. — Ron Hurtibise, sun-sentinel.com, "Boil water order still in place for portion of Las Olas Isles," 3 Aug. 2019 First Google, then Apple, and now Amazon: all three are bowing to pressure from the EU over the issue of humans reviewing recordings from their respective digital assistants. — Dieter Bohn, The Verge, "Amazon will let you opt out of human review of Alexa recordings," 3 Aug. 2019 The plan to secure the reservoir includes using a total of 400 tons of aggregate to divert the flow, removing water with pumps to relieve pressure, and then start repairing the dam itself. — Tara John And Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN, "A British town is at risk of being submerged by a collapsing dam," 2 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Tomato prices also will be pressured from the recent imposition of a 17.56% duty on tomatoes imported from Mexico. — Russ Wiles, azcentral, "Opposition to federal restrictions on tomato imports brings Sinema and McSally together," 15 Aug. 2019 Wilson-Raybould has accused the prime minister and members of his staff of improperly pressuring her to settle a bribery case against a major Canadian engineering company, SNC-Lavalin, with a civil fine that avoided a criminal conviction. — Ian Austen, BostonGlobe.com, "Trudeau Violated Ethics Law in SNC-Lavalin Case, Watchdog Finds," 14 Aug. 2019 The Brewers pressured Minnesota right-hander Kyle Gibson right out of the chute as well with a first-inning RBI single from Keston Hiura and an RBI single from Eric Thames in the third that pulled them to within 3-2. — Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brewers 6, Twins 5: Trent Grisham's homer in the eighth decides it," 14 Aug. 2019 Now the adult kids are pressuring her to get it back. — Amy Dickinson, The Denver Post, "Ask Amy: DNA results reveal secret half-sibling," 14 Aug. 2019 The 11 senators whom Doctor Patient Unity are pressuring are all up for reelection in 2020 – the majority of them in tight races. — Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, "Mysterious group bombarding Birmingham TV airwaves to pressure Doug Jones on surprise medical bills," 14 Aug. 2019 Your comment about wanting to pick your own vacation destination and not be pressured to go on an expensive journey to celebrate a wedding was pretty insensitive. — Ellen Warren, chicagotribune.com, "Is it ever rude to compliment a stranger?," 14 Aug. 2019 The Trump administration has pressured South Korea to pay the US government more for military defense provided against North Korea. — Steve Mollman, Quartz, "North Korea is citing Donald Trump to justify its latest missile tests," 11 Aug. 2019 After a gunman killed 20 elementary students and six teachers in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, President Barack Obama pressured Congress to take action. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "America’s Most Powerful Gun Supporter," 6 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pressure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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