Crush vs. Smash — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 7, 2024
Crush means to press something with intense force, causing it to deform or break, while smash refers to forcefully shattering or breaking an object, often into pieces.
Difference Between Crush and Smash
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Crush involves pressing or squeezing something with substantial pressure, often resulting in flattening, deformation, or disintegration. Smash, on the other hand, means striking or hitting with force, causing something to break or shatter violently.
Crush typically implies compression, as when crushing a can or crushing ice, whereas smash involves an impact that leads to scattering or splintering, like smashing a window or smashing a vase.
Crush is frequently used in contexts where things are compacted or flattened, while smash usually denotes breaking into fragments or multiple pieces.
Crush can sometimes be metaphorical, such as "crushing a dream," indicating destroying it with overwhelming force. Similarly, smash is used figuratively to describe achieving overwhelming success or completely surpassing obstacles.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Pressing with intense force
Breaking by forceful impact
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Action Type
Squeezing or compressing
Hitting or striking
Result
Flattened or disintegrated
Shattered or scattered into pieces
Common Uses
Ice crushing, paper crushing
Smashing glass, smashing furniture
Figurative Use
Destroy or overwhelm (dreams, hopes)
Achieve success or surpass obstacles
Compare with Definitions
Crush
To press with overwhelming force, causing deformation or breaking.
The heavy machinery could crush rocks into smaller pieces.
Smash
To violently break or shatter with forceful impact.
The burglar smashed the window to gain entry.
Crush
To subdue or defeat by overwhelming force.
The army intended to crush the rebellion swiftly.
Smash
To defeat decisively or with overwhelming force.
The champion smashed his opponent in the finals.
Crush
To reduce to smaller fragments or powder.
The chef used a mortar and pestle to crush spices.
Smash
To forcefully hit something, typically to break it.
He angrily smashed his fist on the table.
Crush
To physically squeeze or crowd closely.
The commuters were crushed into the crowded train car.
Smash
To cause a collision or crash with significant force.
The car smashed into the guardrail after skidding.
Crush
To overwhelm emotionally, as in affection or disappointment.
His rejection completely crushed her hopes.
Smash
To achieve significant success in an activity.
The band's latest album smashed all previous sales records.
Crush
To press between opposing bodies so as to break, compress, or injure
The falling rock crushed the car.
Smash
To break (something) into pieces suddenly, noisily, and violently; shatter.
Crush
To break, pound, or grind (stone or ore, for example) into small fragments or powder.
Smash
To render (something) into a mush or pulp, as by throwing or crushing
Smashed the tomatoes against the wall.
Crush
To put down with force; subdue
The regime crushed the rebellion.
Smash
To strike with a heavy blow or impact
The boxer smashed his opponent in the ribs. The bulldozer smashed down the barricade.
Crush
To overwhelm or oppress severely
Spirits that had been crushed by rejection and failure.
Smash
(Sports) To hit (a ball, puck, or shuttlecock) in a forceful overhand stroke.
Crush
To defeat overwhelmingly
Our team was crushed in the playoffs.
Smash
To cause to come into forceful contact with something
Stood up and smashed his head against the cabinet door.
Crush
To crumple or rumple
Crushed the freshly ironed shirt.
Smash
To crush or destroy completely
The army smashed the rebellion.
Crush
To hug, especially with great force.
Smash
To surpass or outdo by a large margin
Smashed the record for goals in a season.
Crush
To hit or propel with great force
A swing of the bat that crushed a fastball over the wall.
Smash
To move and strike or collide suddenly, noisily, and violently
The car smashed into a tree.
Crush
To press upon, shove, or crowd.
Smash
To break suddenly into pieces, as from a violent blow or collision
The dish smashed when it hit the floor.
Crush
To extract or obtain by pressing or squeezing
Crush juice from a grape.
Smash
(Sports) To hit a ball, puck, or shuttlecock in a forceful overhand stroke.
Crush
To be or become crushed
Aluminum cans crush easily.
Smash
To go bankrupt.
Crush
To proceed or move by crowding or pressing
The fans crushed forward to get a glimpse of the movie star.
Smash
A heavy blow or collision
The smash knocked over the signpost.
Crush
The act of crushing or the pressure involved in crushing
Matter superheated by the crush of gravity around black holes.
Smash
(Sports) A forceful overhand stroke, as in tennis or badminton.
Crush
A great crowd
A crush of spectators.
Smash
A violent breaking of something or the noise made by such breaking
There was a loud smash in the kitchen as the dishes fell off the shelf.
Crush
A substance prepared by or as if by crushing, especially a fruit drink
Orange crush.
Smash
Total defeat or destruction; ruin.
Crush
A usually temporary infatuation
Had a crush on her friend's cousin.
Smash
Financial failure; bankruptcy.
Crush
One who is the object of such an infatuation.
Smash
A drink made of mint, sugar, soda water, and alcoholic liquor, usually brandy.
Crush
A violent collision or compression; a crash; destruction; ruin.
Smash
A soft drink made of crushed fruit.
Crush
Violent pressure, as of a moving crowd.
Smash
(Informal) A resounding success
The play was a smash on Broadway.
Crush
A violent crowding.
Smash
Of, relating to, or being a resounding success
A smash hit on Broadway.
Crush
A crowd that produces uncomfortable pressure.
A crush at a reception
Smash
With a sudden violent crash.
Crush
(slang) A group or gang.
Smash
The sound of a violent impact; a violent striking together.
I could hear the screech of the brakes, then the horrible smash of cars colliding.
Crush
A crowd control barrier.
Smash
A traffic collision.
The driver and two passengers were badly injured in the smash.
Crush
A drink made by squeezing the juice out of fruit.
Smash
(colloquial) Something very successful or popular (as music, food, fashion, etc).
This new show is sure to be a smash.
Crush
(informal) An infatuation with somebody one is not dating.
I've had a huge crush on her since we met many years ago.
Smash
(tennis) A very hard overhead shot hit sharply downward.
A smash may not be as pretty as a good half volley, but it can still win points.
Crush
The human object of such infatuation or affection.
Smash
A bankruptcy.
Crush
A standing stock or cage with movable sides used to restrain livestock for safe handling.
Smash
A disaster; a bad situation.
Crush
(dated) A party or festive function.
Smash
A mashed foodstuff.
Crush
(Australia) The process of crushing cane to remove the raw sugar, or the season when this process takes place.
Smash
A kind of julep cocktail containing chunks of fresh fruit that can be eaten after finishing the drink.
Crush
The situation where certain colors are so similar as to be hard to distinguish, either as a deliberate effect or as a limitation of a display.
Black crush; white crush
Smash
Airspeed; dynamic pressure.
Crush
A paraphilia involving arousal from seeing things destroyed by crushing.
Smash
(transitive) To break (something brittle) violently.
The demolition team smashed the buildings to rubble.
The flying rock smashed the window to pieces.
Crush
To press between two hard objects; to squeeze so as to alter the natural shape or integrity, or to force together into a mass.
To crush grapes
Smash
(intransitive) To be destroyed by being smashed.
The crockery smashed as it hit the floor.
Crush
To reduce to fine particles by pounding or grinding.
To crush quartz
Smash
(transitive) To hit extremely hard.
He smashed his head against the table.
Bonds smashed the ball 467 feet, the second longest home run in the history of the park.
Crush
(figurative) To overwhelm by pressure or weight.
After the corruption scandal, the opposition crushed the ruling party in the elections
Smash
To ruin completely and suddenly.
The news smashed any hopes of a reunion.
Crush
To do impressively well at (sports events; performances; interviews; etc.).
They had a gig recently at Madison Square—totally crushed it!
Smash
To defeat overwhelmingly; to gain a comprehensive success over.
The Indians smashed the Yankees 22-0.
I really smashed that English exam.
Crush
To oppress or grievously burden.
Smash
To deform through continuous pressure.
I slowly smashed the modeling clay flat with the palm of my hand.
Crush
To overcome completely; to subdue totally.
The sultan's black guard crushed every resistance bloodily.
Smash
To break in pieces by violence; to dash to pieces; to crush.
Here everything is broken and smashed to pieces.
Crush
(intransitive) To be or become broken down or in, or pressed into a smaller volume or area, by external weight or force.
An eggshell crushes easily
Smash
To hit (the ball) from above the level of the net with a very hard overhand stroke.
Crush
To feel infatuation or unrequited love.
She's crushing on him.
Smash
To break up, or to pieces suddenly, as the result of collision or pressure.
Crush
To give a compressed or foreshortened appearance to.
Smash
A breaking or dashing to pieces; utter destruction; wreck.
Crush
To make certain colors so similar as to be hard to distinguish, either as a deliberate effect or as a limitation of a display.
My old TV set crushes the blacks when the brightness is lowered.
Smash
Hence, bankruptcy.
Crush
To press or bruise between two hard bodies; to squeeze, so as to destroy the natural shape or integrity of the parts, or to force together into a mass; as, to crush grapes.
Ye shall not offer unto the Lord that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut.
The ass . . . thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall.
Smash
A vigorous blow;
The sudden knock floored him
He took a bash right in his face
He got a bang on the head
Crush
To reduce to fine particles by pounding or grinding; to comminute; as, to crush quartz.
Smash
A serious collision (especially of motor vehicles)
Crush
To overwhelm by pressure or weight; to beat or force down, as by an incumbent weight.
To crush the pillars which the pile sustain.
Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again.
Smash
A hard return hitting the tennis ball above your head
Crush
To oppress or burden grievously.
Thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway.
Smash
The act of colliding with something;
His crash through the window
The fullback's smash into the defensive line
Crush
To overcome completely; to subdue totally.
Speedily overtaking and crushing the rebels.
Smash
A conspicuous success;
That song was his first hit and marked the beginning of his career
That new Broadway show is a real smasher
The party went with a bang
Crush
To subdue or overwhelm (a person) by argument or a cutting remark; to cause (a person) to feel chagrin or humiliation; to squelch.
Smash
Hit hard;
He smashed a 3-run homer
Crush
To be or become broken down or in, or pressed into a smaller compass, by external weight or force; as, an eggshell crushes easily.
Smash
Break into pieces, as by striking or knocking over;
Smash a plate
Crush
A violent collision or compression; a crash; destruction; ruin.
The wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds.
Smash
Reduce to bankruptcy;
My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!
The slump in the financial markets smashed him
Crush
Violent pressure, as of a crowd; a crowd which produced uncomfortable pressure; as, a crush at a reception.
Politics leave very little time for the bow window at White's in the day, or for the crush room of the opera at night.
Smash
Hit violently;
She smashed her car against the guard rail
Crush
Leather that has had its grain pattern accentuated
Smash
Humiliate or depress completely;
She was crushed by his refusal of her invitation
The death of her son smashed her
Crush
A dense crowd of people
Smash
Damage or destroy as if by violence;
The teenager banged up the car of his mother
Crush
Temporary love of an adolescent
Smash
Hit (a tennis ball) in a powerful overhead stroke
Crush
The act of crushing
Smash
Collide or strike violently and suddenly;
The motorcycle smashed into the guard rail
Crush
Come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority;
The government oppresses political activists
Smash
Overthrow or destroy (something considered evil or harmful);
The police smashed the drug ring after they were tipped off
Crush
To compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition;
Crush an aluminum can
Squeeze a lemon
Smash
Break suddenly into pieces, as from a violent blow;
The window smashed
Crush
Come out better in a competition, race, or conflict;
Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship
We beat the competition
Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game
Smash
With a loud crash;
The car went smash through the fence
Crush
Break into small pieces;
The car crushed the toy
Crush
Humiliate or depress completely;
She was crushed by his refusal of her invitation
The death of her son smashed her
Crush
Crush or bruise;
Jam a toe
Crush
Make ineffective;
Martin Luther King tried to break down racial discrimination
Crush
Become injured, broken, or distorted by pressure;
The plastic bottle crushed against the wall
Common Curiosities
Is crushing always destructive?
Yes, it generally implies causing damage or changing an object significantly.
Can smash imply emotional damage?
Smash usually indicates destruction or success, while crush more directly implies emotional impact.
What type of materials are typically crushed?
Soft or brittle materials like cans, paper, ice, and stones can be crushed.
Can crush refer to crowded spaces?
Yes, people being tightly packed is sometimes described as a "crush."
Which one implies more sudden action: crush or smash?
Smash suggests more sudden, violent action, whereas crush may be more gradual.
Does smash imply victory?
Yes, smash can be used figuratively to signify overwhelming success.
What is a common context where smash is used?
Smash is frequently used in sports to describe powerful hitting or defeating opponents.
Does smash always involve breaking something into pieces?
Generally, yes, smash often results in scattering or fragmenting.
Can crush refer to reducing size instead of breaking?
Yes, crush often reduces an object to smaller pieces or compact shapes.
Does smash have any culinary uses?
Yes, smashing is used in cooking, like smashing garlic or potatoes for different textures.
Can crush and smash be used interchangeably?
Not exactly, as crush involves pressing or squeezing, while smash refers to breaking via forceful impact.
Which term conveys less permanence: crush or smash?
Crush implies compaction but not necessarily permanent destruction, whereas smash often results in irreparable fragmentation.
What are some objects commonly smashed?
Windows, dishes, or walls are commonly smashed due to their fragility.
Are both terms associated with negative outcomes?
Not always, as "crush" can refer to affection, and "smash" can denote significant achievement.
Is crush used more figuratively than smash?
Crush is often metaphorical, like crushing goals, while smash is literal but can also describe major success.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
