pushing
adjective
push·ing ˈpu̇-shiŋ 
1
: marked by ambition, energy, enterprise, and initiative
2
: marked by tactless forwardness or officious intrusiveness
Synonyms
- ambitious
- aspiring
- go-getting
- hard-driving
- self-seeking
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
among the young associates at the law firm, he was unmistakably the most pushing the sort of sycophantic, pushing man on the make that everyone loves to hate
Word History
First Known Use
1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing pushing
pushing 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in aspiring
having a strong desire for personal advancement among the young associates at the law firm, he was unmistakably the most pushing Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- aspiring
- ambitious
- driving
- hustling
- determined
- motivated
- hard-driving
- eager
- energetic
- diligent
- dynamic
- competing
- go-getting
- hungry
- ardent
- aggressive
- self-seeking
- venturesome
- enterprising
- animated
- impassioned
- lively
- spirited
- raring
- industrious
- pushy
- competitive
- avid
- scrappy
- vigorous
- gung ho
- rival
- venturous
- assertive
- opportunistic
- keen
- pretentious
- overambitious
- high-flying
- self-assertive
- rivalrous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- indifferent
- uninterested
- disinterested
- unambitious
- apathetic
- casual
- lackadaisical
- uneager
- sluggish
- tepid
- lukewarm
- lazy
- unexcited
- halfhearted
- easygoing
- unenthusiastic
- ambitionless
- lethargic
- listless
- shiftless
- lazyish
- unaggressive
- spiritless
- unassertive
2
as in busy
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited the sort of sycophantic, pushing man on the make that everyone loves to hate Synonyms & Similar Words
- busy
- intruding
- interfering
- prying
- meddling
- pushy
- annoying
- presuming
- intrusive
- invading
- trespassing
- meddlesome
- officious
- obtrusive
- protrusive
- snoopy
- nosy
- rude
- presumptuous
- nosey
- harassing
- brazen
- curious
- impudent
- bumptious
- insolent
- bold
- inquisitive
- impertinent
- overbearing
- superserviceable
- pestiferous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unobtrusive
- withdrawn
- retiring
- inhibited
- silent
- restrained
- quiet
- reserved
- reticent
- uninvolved
- hands-off
- reclusive
- subdued
- taciturn
pushing
2 of 2verb
1
as in shoving
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one I had to push my damaged bike all the way home Synonyms & Similar Words
- shoving
- driving
- thrusting
- propelling
- moving
- squeezing
- forcing
- jamming
- pressuring
- compressing
- squashing
- impelling
- muscling
- ramming
- bulldozing
- compelling
- depressing
- bearing (down)
- weighing (upon)
- leaning (on or against)
2
as in squeezing
to force one's way we had to push our way through a crowd that was mostly headed in the opposite direction Synonyms & Similar Words
- squeezing
- shoving
- pressing
- jamming
- jostling
- crashing
- elbowing
- thrusting
- muscling
- shouldering
- bulldozing
- boring
- bulling
- ramming