General Pressure/Compression:
* Compressed: Formal and neutral, emphasizes the reduction in volume.
* Constrained: Suggests a feeling of being limited or restricted.
* Constricted: Similar to "constrained," but with a greater emphasis on tightness.
* Pinched: Suggests a sharp or sudden pressure.
* Crushed: Indicates a severe or forceful compression.
* Packed: Implies a dense or tightly packed arrangement.
* Jammed: Suggests a forceful and often difficult insertion or confinement.
Financial or Emotional Pressure:
* Stretched: Implies a financial situation where resources are limited.
* Strapped: Similar to "stretched," but emphasizes a sense of being burdened.
* Hemmed in: Suggests a feeling of being trapped or limited.
* Suffocated: Figurative, suggesting a sense of being overwhelmed or suffocated by pressure.
Other Options:
* Wrung: Implies twisting or squeezing.
* Pressed: General term, can be used in various contexts.
* Forced: Suggests a lack of choice or control.
* Manipulated: Implies a more deliberate or calculated pressure.
Example Sentences:
* The data was compressed into a smaller file size.
* The company's profits were constrained by rising costs.
* The child's chest felt constricted as he struggled to breathe.
* He was hemmed in by his financial obligations.
* She felt suffocated by the pressure of her demanding job.
The best word to use will depend on the specific context and the effect you want to achieve.