crushing weight

USAGE SUMMARY

"crushing weight" is a perfectly acceptable and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to a literal weight which is too heavy to be borne, or figuratively to describe a burden or responsibility which is overly burdensome. For example, "The crushing weight of student loan debt has become an increasingly pressing issue in America."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Something about the crushing weight of all that genius.

The New Yorker

"Eyeball guy" wears a hard hat beneath the eyeball head due to its crushing weight.

The Guardian - Music

He squeezes through automatic doors stencilled: "Warning: crushing weight of this door exceeds four tons".

The Guardian - Money

The lamentation for Mimi at the end had unexpectedly crushing weight.

The New Yorker

Brazil's team progressed without the crushing weight of expectation it usually carries.

The New York Times - Sports

I was released onto the street, relieved of the crushing weight of a single plastic card.

The New York Times

I did hope that it would help people struggling under the crushing weight of financial mistakes.

The New York Times

Beggars, laborers and prostitutes, famished and bent over as if under crushing weight, were his subjects.

The New York Times - Arts

The compassion, however, is, if not exactly false, too thin to bear the crushing weight of the sentimentality.

The Guardian

We have evolved to wear crucifixes on necklaces without feeling the crushing weight of potential divine wrath and brimstone.

The Guardian - Opinion

In these eleven mini-biographies of the Dickens brood, the great theme is the crushing weight of the father's personality.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crushing weight" to vividly describe burdens that are not only heavy but also emotionally or psychologically damaging. For instance, "The crushing weight of expectations stifled her creativity."

Common error

Avoid using "crushing weight" to describe minor inconveniences or challenges. This phrase carries a strong connotation of severity and can sound melodramatic if applied inappropriately.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "crushing weight" is typically as a noun phrase, where "crushing" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "weight". Ludwig AI confirms its usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "crushing weight" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe significant burdens or pressures. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently employed in news and media, as well as encyclopedic contexts. While "crushing weight" can refer to a literal heavy load, it is more often used figuratively to convey the intensity of emotional, psychological, or financial burdens. When writing, it's important to use this phrase appropriately, reserving it for scenarios where the burden is genuinely overwhelming to avoid sounding melodramatic. Alternatives such as "overwhelming burden" or "immense pressure" may be more suitable in less severe situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

crushing burden

Synonymous, simply replaces "weight" with "burden".

oppressive weight

Emphasizes the feeling of being weighed down and suppressed.

overwhelming burden

Emphasizes the burdensome aspect, highlighting the difficulty it causes.

crippling load

Suggests the weight is so significant it impairs function or progress.

unbearable pressure

Highlights the inability to withstand the pressure.

immense pressure

Focuses on the pressure aspect rather than the physical or emotional weight.

colossal weight

Emphasizes the large scale of the weight.

debilitating pressure

Implies the pressure weakens or incapacitates.

enormous strain

Highlights the stress and tension resulting from the weight.

unyielding weight

Highlights that the weight is persistent.

FAQs

How can I use "crushing weight" in a sentence?

You can use "crushing weight" to describe a literal heavy load or, more commonly, a significant emotional or psychological burden. For instance, "The company buckled under the "crushing weight" of debt."

What phrases are similar to "crushing weight"?

Alternatives include "overwhelming burden", "immense pressure", or "oppressive weight". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "crushing weight" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "crushing weight" is suitable for formal writing. It's used in news articles, academic papers, and business reports to describe significant burdens or pressures.

What's the difference between "crushing weight" and "heavy burden"?

"Crushing weight" implies a more intense and potentially debilitating burden than simply a "heavy burden". The word "crushing" suggests a force that overwhelms and potentially destroys.