n. 1 force, compression; weight, power, strength The air pressure in your tyres is low The pressure of the water burst the pipe. 2 compression, pressing, squeezing, compressing, tension, stress, crushing The pressure of a tourniquet has to be loosened now and then 3 affliction, oppression, press, weight, burden, load, albatross, strain, stress, urgency, demands, exigency or exigencies, vexation, distress, trouble(s), adversity, difficulty or difficulties, straits, constraint(s), problem(s) Pressure of work prevents me from taking any time away from the office When interest rates increase, we all feel financial pressure. 4 influence, power, sway, constraint, insistence, coercion, intimidation, arm-twisting; inducement, persuasion, urging, pressing Without more pressure from local residents, the roadworks will not be completed in time
v. 5 persuade, influence; prevail upon or on, press, urge, sway, intimidate, bring pressure to bear (on), apply pressure (on or to), coerce, force, compel, constrain, require, demand, make, insist upon or on, Brit pressurize, Colloq twist (someone's) arm, lean on, turn the heat on, Slang put the screws on or to They pressured him to take the assignment in New Zealand