What does uncrushed mean?
Uncrushed is an adjective meaning not crushed or damaged, and figuratively not defeated, broken, or subdued. In literal descriptions, it may refer to food, plants, stones, or other materials that remain whole despite pressure, impact, or handling. For example, uncrushed garlic retains its cloves and texture, while flowers delivered as a gift might arrive uncrushed. Figuratively, the word expresses resilience and endurance: a person whose confidence remains uncrushed or a team that has not lost its determination is described as uncrushed. The expression can also suggest an active quality rather than merely the absence of damage, particularly when it is used of someone who continues to resist despite difficult circumstances. Its ordinary usage is common in British and American English, although more literary or emphatic examples may occur in journalism, sports writing, and descriptions of resilience.
adjectiveNot crushed; remaining whole or intact after pressure or impact. Figuratively, it means undefeated, unbroken, or not subdued.
- Not crushed or damaged; remaining whole or intact.
- Not defeated, broken, or subdued; continuing to resist or prevail.
"Despite the rough journey, the flowers arrived uncrushed."
"The grapes must remain uncrushed until they are processed."
"Her spirits stayed uncrushed even after the team lost its final match."
Uncrushed turns a simple physical image into a quietly defiant one: something can be pressed, tested, and still emerge whole.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does uncrushed come from?
The word is formed from the English negative prefix un- and the verb crush. The prefix means “not” or “the opposite of,” and its use in uncrushed follows the normal English pattern of forming an opposite from a base verb. Crush is a Middle English word commonly traced to Old French cruschier, although the precise historical development is uncertain. The adjective uncrushed has therefore developed by negating the idea of crushing rather than by borrowing a separate foreign formation.
Related word forms
How uncrushed is actually used
Common in both literal and figurative contexts. The figurative sense carries a positive, determined tone, especially when describing a person, team, or spirit that has endured pressure.
Easily confused with uncrushed
Crushed means broken, compressed, or reduced by pressure, whereas uncrushed means not crushed and therefore still intact or unaffected.