Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for pressing.
Definitions

pressing

[pres-ing] / ˈprɛs ɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
important; urgent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acute compelling critical crucial demanding dire immediate imperative insistent serious vital
STRONG
burning claiming constraining crying distressing exacting forcing instant obliging requiring
WEAK
clamant clamorous exigent heat-on high-priority hurry-up importunate life-and-death
Antonyms
STRONGEST
dull inessential optional trivial uncritical unimportant
WEAK
insignificant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Americans face a crisis of violence, yes, but the crisis of compassion is just as pressing.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

Then I ask the AI to quiz me on it, Socratically, pressing me on the connections I missed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The context was the crisis in the eurozone and the role he was pressing on a reluctant Germany was an economic, not a military one.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

The most pressing contributor is Homeland Security funding.

From Slate • Mar. 24, 2026

Threads of cotton were pressing against my eyes.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.