causing overwhelming disappointment or embarrassment

the news came as a crushing blow

compress or squeeze forcefully so as to break, damage, or distort in shape

the front of his car was crushed in the collision

you can crush a pill between two spoons

a labourer was crushed to death by a lorry

violently subdue (opposition or a rebellion)

the king crushed the rebellion

make (someone) feel overwhelmingly disappointed or embarrassed

I was crushed—was I not good enough?