Crush vs. Infatuation: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A crush is a brief and intense attraction to someone, often based on little interaction, while infatuation is a deeper, obsessive, and idealized passion.
Key Differences
A crush is typically a fleeting, intense attraction to someone, often experienced suddenly and based on superficial qualities. Infatuation, in contrast, is a more intense and obsessive form of attraction, where one may feel deeply connected to or fixated on another person.
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Dec 04, 2023
Crushes can be whimsical and light-hearted, commonly experienced in the early stages of knowing someone. Infatuation, however, often involves an idealized and unrealistic perception of the object of affection, accompanied by a strong emotional investment.
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Dec 04, 2023
Crushes may not necessarily impact one's daily life or emotional state significantly. Infatuation, on the other hand, can lead to significant emotional turmoil or distraction, often impacting daily functioning or decision-making.
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A crush can dissipate quickly, especially after getting to know the person better. Infatuation tends to last longer and might persist even in the face of contradictory information about the person.
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Crushes can happen multiple times and with various people, often without deep emotional attachment. Infatuation is more consuming and can be focused intensely on one individual, often leading to a sense of longing or desire.
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Comparison Chart
Basis
Often based on superficial qualities
Idealized and unrealistic perception
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Impact on Life
Minimal impact on daily life
Can significantly impact emotions and decisions
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Emotional Attachment
Not deeply emotionally attached
Strong emotional investment and longing
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Crush and Infatuation Definitions
Crush
Can be a passing appreciation of someone’s qualities.
He had a crush on his coworker because of her wit and intelligence.
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Infatuation
A state of being completely carried away by unreasoning passion.
He experienced a deep infatuation that blinded him to her flaws.
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Crush
To press between opposing bodies so as to break, compress, or injure
The falling rock crushed the car.
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Infatuation
Can lead to obsessive thoughts and behavior.
His infatuation led him to think about her constantly.
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Crush
To break, pound, or grind (stone or ore, for example) into small fragments or powder.
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Infatuation
An intense, often short-lived passion or admiration for someone.
Her infatuation with the artist was overwhelming and all-consuming.
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Infatuation
Often involves idealizing the object of affection.
In her infatuation, she believed he was perfect in every way.
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Crush
To overwhelm or oppress severely
Spirits that had been crushed by rejection and failure.
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Crush
To hit or propel with great force
A swing of the bat that crushed a fastball over the wall.
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Oct 19, 2023
Infatuation
(obsolete) The act of infatuating; the state of being infatuated; madness.
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Crush
To extract or obtain by pressing or squeezing
Crush juice from a grape.
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Infatuation
The act of infatuating; the state of being infatuated; folly; that which infatuates.
The infatuations of the sensual and frivolous part of mankind are amazing; but the infatuations of the learned and sophistical are incomparably more so.
Such is the infatuation of self-love.
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Crush
To proceed or move by crowding or pressing
The fans crushed forward to get a glimpse of the movie star.
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Crush
The act of crushing or the pressure involved in crushing
Matter superheated by the crush of gravity around black holes.
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Infatuation
May impact decision-making and emotional stability.
Her infatuation with her boss affected her work performance.
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Crush
A substance prepared by or as if by crushing, especially a fruit drink
Orange crush.
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Crush
(informal) An infatuation with somebody one is not dating.
I've had a huge crush on her since we met many years ago.
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Crush
A standing stock or cage with movable sides used to restrain livestock for safe handling.
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Crush
(Australia) The process of crushing cane to remove the raw sugar, or the season when this process takes place.
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Crush
The situation where certain colors are so similar as to be hard to distinguish, either as a deliberate effect or as a limitation of a display.
Black crush; white crush
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Crush
A paraphilia involving arousal from seeing things destroyed by crushing.
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Crush
To press between two hard objects; to squeeze so as to alter the natural shape or integrity, or to force together into a mass.
To crush grapes
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Crush
(figurative) To overwhelm by pressure or weight.
After the corruption scandal, the opposition crushed the ruling party in the elections
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Crush
To do impressively well at (sports events; performances; interviews; etc.).
They had a gig recently at Madison Square—totally crushed it!
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Crush
To overcome completely; to subdue totally.
The sultan's black guard crushed every resistance bloodily.
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Crush
(intransitive) To be or become broken down or in, or pressed into a smaller volume or area, by external weight or force.
An eggshell crushes easily
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Crush
To make certain colors so similar as to be hard to distinguish, either as a deliberate effect or as a limitation of a display.
My old TV set crushes the blacks when the brightness is lowered.
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Crush
To press or bruise between two hard bodies; to squeeze, so as to destroy the natural shape or integrity of the parts, or to force together into a mass; as, to crush grapes.
Ye shall not offer unto the Lord that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut.
The ass . . . thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall.
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Oct 19, 2023
Crush
To reduce to fine particles by pounding or grinding; to comminute; as, to crush quartz.
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Crush
To overwhelm by pressure or weight; to beat or force down, as by an incumbent weight.
To crush the pillars which the pile sustain.
Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again.
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Crush
To oppress or burden grievously.
Thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway.
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Crush
To overcome completely; to subdue totally.
Speedily overtaking and crushing the rebels.
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Crush
To subdue or overwhelm (a person) by argument or a cutting remark; to cause (a person) to feel chagrin or humiliation; to squelch.
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Crush
To be or become broken down or in, or pressed into a smaller compass, by external weight or force; as, an eggshell crushes easily.
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Crush
A violent collision or compression; a crash; destruction; ruin.
The wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds.
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Crush
Violent pressure, as of a crowd; a crowd which produced uncomfortable pressure; as, a crush at a reception.
Politics leave very little time for the bow window at White's in the day, or for the crush room of the opera at night.
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Crush
Come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority;
The government oppresses political activists
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Crush
To compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition;
Crush an aluminum can
Squeeze a lemon
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Crush
Come out better in a competition, race, or conflict;
Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship
We beat the competition
Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game
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Crush
Humiliate or depress completely;
She was crushed by his refusal of her invitation
The death of her son smashed her
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Crush
Make ineffective;
Martin Luther King tried to break down racial discrimination
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Crush
Become injured, broken, or distorted by pressure;
The plastic bottle crushed against the wall
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Crush
A brief and intense admiration for someone.
She had a crush on her classmate, admiring him from afar.
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Nov 25, 2023
Crush
A fleeting attraction often based on initial impressions.
His crush on the new singer was due to her charismatic performance.
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Nov 25, 2023
Crush
An innocent and light-hearted romantic interest.
The teenager’s crush on the movie star was a sweet phase.
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Nov 25, 2023
Crush
Often experienced during adolescence or young adulthood.
High school is full of fleeting crushes and first loves.
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Nov 25, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How long does a crush typically last?
A crush can last for a few days to a few months, varying greatly depending on the individual and circumstances.
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Dec 04, 2023
How is "infatuation" defined?
Infatuation refers to an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone, usually more obsessive than a crush.
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Dec 04, 2023
What is a "crush"?
A crush is a brief but intense feeling of admiration and attraction towards someone, often without deeper emotional involvement.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is infatuation the same as love?
No, infatuation is different from love; it's usually more superficial, intense, and short-lived, lacking deeper emotional connection and understanding.
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Dec 04, 2023
What are common symptoms of infatuation?
Common symptoms include intense focus on the person, idealization, obsessive thoughts, and a strong desire for reciprocation.
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Is a crush always romantic?
Most often, yes, but people can have a crush on someone they admire platonically, like a celebrity or a role model.
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What triggers a crush?
A crush is often triggered by physical attraction, admiration for certain traits, or a connection with someone.
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Dec 04, 2023
Does infatuation affect decision-making?
Yes, infatuation can cloud judgment and lead to irrational decisions or behaviors driven by intense emotions.
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Can a crush exist in long-term relationships?
Yes, people in long-term relationships can still develop crushes, often fleeting and harmless.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can a crush turn into infatuation?
Yes, a crush can develop into infatuation if the feelings intensify and become more obsessive or idealized.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can you have a crush on someone you've never met?
Yes, people can develop crushes on someone they've never met, like a celebrity, based on perceived traits or appearances.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is infatuation based on real qualities of the person?
Infatuation often involves idealization, so it may not accurately reflect the real qualities of the person.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can infatuation lead to a healthy relationship?
It can, if both parties develop deeper, more meaningful feelings beyond the initial infatuation.
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Dec 04, 2023
How do you move on from a crush?
Moving on from a crush involves time, distraction, focusing on other aspects of life, and sometimes avoiding contact with the person.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can infatuation turn into a crush?
Infatuation can evolve into a crush if the intensity lessens and the feelings become more grounded and less obsessive.
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Dec 04, 2023
Why does infatuation fade over time?
Infatuation fades as the initial excitement and idealization diminish, often replaced by a more realistic understanding of the other person.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can infatuation be one-sided?
Yes, infatuation is often one-sided, with the infatuated person having intense feelings that are not reciprocated.
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Dec 04, 2023
How can one distinguish a crush from friendship?
A crush usually involves romantic or physical attraction, while friendship is based on platonic affection and companionship.
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Dec 04, 2023
How does age impact experiences of crushes?
While crushes are common in adolescence, they can occur at any age, with perhaps more maturity and self-awareness in later years.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is infatuation unhealthy?
Infatuation can be unhealthy if it leads to obsessive behavior, neglect of other aspects of life, or unrealistic expectations.
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Dec 04, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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