BORE DOWN ON Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

bore (down on) 1 of 2

verb

Definition of bore (down on)

past tense of bear (down on)

as in weighed (on or upon)

to push steadily against with some force you need to bear down on that cap a bit to get it to latch tightly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

bore down on

2 of 2

phrase

past tense of bear down on

as in highlighted

to indicate the importance of by centering attention on Our manager bore down on the need to meet upcoming deadlines.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bore (down on)

Verb

Smid also pressed Garcia on why, during the initial investigation, Garcia chose not to attempt to secure recordings of King’s harassing behavior.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026
Read my full story about the TV interview where Marshall was pressed repeatedly about his political ambitions.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

Definition of pressed

Verb

According to court documents reviewed by The Times, the model alleges that Sandoval shoved her down a flight of stairs in his home, pushed her to the ground at a hotel in Nashville, and attacked her and her father on June 3.

— Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Hakimi shoved Laryea to the ground and then Laryea pushed him and a minor scuffle ensued.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026

Definition of shoved

Verb

Investment grade spreads are trading near historical tights, and high yield spreads have compressed below 300 basis points — a level that, according to iShares analysis, has occurred only 5% of the time since January 2000.

— Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
During the peak in 2021 and 2022, C’Ganti has said pricing between Class A, B, and C properties was compressed.

— Nia Bowers, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Definition of compressed

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

bore (down)

bore (down on)

bore down on

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bore (down on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bore%20%28down%20on%29. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of bore (down on)

verb

phrase

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes