Crush vs. Infatuation — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 15, 2023
A crush is a brief, intense attraction towards someone, while infatuation is a deeper, obsessive interest that can feel like love.
Difference Between Crush and Infatuation
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A crush often refers to a sudden, strong feeling of attraction towards someone, usually someone you know superficially or haven't known for very long. It's like a spark, often based on appearance or a particular trait. On the other hand, infatuation is a bit more consuming, characterized by an obsessive interest in someone, often accompanied by an idealized perception of the person.
A crush can be seen as fleeting and often, over time, the feelings fade as you get to know the person better or as you find another person to have a crush on. It can be based on superficial characteristics like the way someone looks or talks. Infatuation, however, lasts longer than a simple crush. While it's not as enduring as true love, it's more intense and can lead to a false sense of intimacy.
The origin of a crush can often be attributed to admiration, maybe because of someone's skills, talents, or even looks. Infatuation though, delves deeper into emotional territories, often leaving individuals blinded to the other person's flaws or seeing them through rose-colored glasses.
While both a crush and infatuation can give you butterflies in the stomach, a crush is usually harmless and doesn’t impact one's decision-making. Infatuation, on the other hand, can be all-consuming, sometimes making it hard for someone to think clearly or make rational decisions.
It's also noteworthy that a crush often doesn't come with an expectation of a relationship. Many can admit to a crush without wanting it to go anywhere further. Infatuation, conversely, generally carries with it an intense desire to be with the person, often leading to feelings of despair if those feelings aren't reciprocated.
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Comparison Chart
Duration
Short-lived
Lasts longer than a crush
Depth
Surface-level attraction
Deeper, obsessive interest
Origin
Often based on admiration
Emotional and idealized perception
Impact on Decisions
Usually doesn't affect decisions
Can cloud judgment
Expectations
No expectation of a relationship
Desire for reciprocation and relationship
Compare with Definitions
Crush
A brief, intense attraction towards someone.
Lisa had a crush on the new boy in class.
Infatuation
The state of being infatuated; the act of infatuating.
His infatuation for the idea didn't last long.
Crush
A feeling of admiration for someone's abilities or qualities.
He had a crush on her because of her singing talent.
Infatuation
An intense, often short-lived passion or admiration for someone.
His infatuation with the actress was obvious to everyone.
Crush
A crowd of people pressed closely together.
The crush at the concert entrance was overwhelming.
Infatuation
A foolish and usually extravagant passion or love.
The novel depicted the hero's infatuation with a femme fatale.
Crush
To pulverize or break something into small pieces.
Please crush the ice for the drinks.
Infatuation
An obsessive interest in someone, often without a real relationship.
Teenagers often mistake infatuation for love.
Crush
To suppress or stifle something.
The rebels' hopes were crushed by the king's army.
Infatuation
A state of being carried away by unreasoned passion or attraction.
Infatuation made her overlook his obvious flaws.
Crush
To press between opposing bodies so as to break, compress, or injure
The falling rock crushed the car.
Infatuation
Infatuation or being smitten is the state of being carried away by an unreasoned passion, usually towards another person for whom one has developed strong romantic or platonic feelings. Psychologist Frank D. Cox says that infatuation can be distinguished from romantic love only when looking back on a particular case of being attracted to a person.
Crush
To break, pound, or grind (stone or ore, for example) into small fragments or powder.
Infatuation
To inspire with unreasoning love or attachment.
Crush
To put down with force; subdue
The regime crushed the rebellion.
Infatuation
To cause to behave foolishly.
Crush
To overwhelm or oppress severely
Spirits that had been crushed by rejection and failure.
Infatuation
Infatuated.
Crush
To defeat overwhelmingly
Our team was crushed in the playoffs.
Infatuation
An immensely strong love or sexual attraction.
Crush
To crumple or rumple
Crushed the freshly ironed shirt.
Infatuation
(obsolete) The act of infatuating; the state of being infatuated; madness.
Crush
To hug, especially with great force.
Infatuation
Something which infatuates.
Crush
To hit or propel with great force
A swing of the bat that crushed a fastball over the wall.
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.
Crush
To press upon, shove, or crowd.
Infatuation
Foolish and usually extravagant passion or love or admiration
Crush
To extract or obtain by pressing or squeezing
Crush juice from a grape.
Infatuation
Temporary love of an adolescent
Crush
To be or become crushed
Aluminum cans crush easily.
Infatuation
An object of extravagant short-lived passion
Crush
To proceed or move by crowding or pressing
The fans crushed forward to get a glimpse of the movie star.
Crush
The act of crushing or the pressure involved in crushing
Matter superheated by the crush of gravity around black holes.
Crush
A great crowd
A crush of spectators.
Crush
A substance prepared by or as if by crushing, especially a fruit drink
Orange crush.
Crush
A usually temporary infatuation
Had a crush on her friend's cousin.
Crush
One who is the object of such an infatuation.
Crush
A violent collision or compression; a crash; destruction; ruin.
Crush
Violent pressure, as of a moving crowd.
Crush
A violent crowding.
Crush
A crowd that produces uncomfortable pressure.
A crush at a reception
Crush
(slang) A group or gang.
Crush
A crowd control barrier.
Crush
A drink made by squeezing the juice out of fruit.
Crush
(informal) An infatuation with somebody one is not dating.
I've had a huge crush on her since we met many years ago.
Crush
The human object of such infatuation or affection.
Crush
A standing stock or cage with movable sides used to restrain livestock for safe handling.
Crush
(dated) A party or festive function.
Crush
(Australia) The process of crushing cane to remove the raw sugar, or the season when this process takes place.
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
Crush
A paraphilia involving arousal from seeing things destroyed by crushing.
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
Crush
To reduce to fine particles by pounding or grinding.
To crush quartz
Crush
(figurative) To overwhelm by pressure or weight.
After the corruption scandal, the opposition crushed the ruling party in the elections
Crush
To do impressively well at (sports events; performances; interviews; etc.).
They had a gig recently at Madison Square—totally crushed it!
Crush
To oppress or grievously burden.
Crush
To overcome completely; to subdue totally.
The sultan's black guard crushed every resistance bloodily.
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
Crush
To feel infatuation or unrequited love.
She's crushing on him.
Crush
To give a compressed or foreshortened appearance to.
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.
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.
Crush
To reduce to fine particles by pounding or grinding; to comminute; as, to crush quartz.
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.
Crush
To oppress or burden grievously.
Thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway.
Crush
To overcome completely; to subdue totally.
Speedily overtaking and crushing the rebels.
Crush
To subdue or overwhelm (a person) by argument or a cutting remark; to cause (a person) to feel chagrin or humiliation; to squelch.
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.
Crush
A violent collision or compression; a crash; destruction; ruin.
The wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds.
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.
Crush
Leather that has had its grain pattern accentuated
Crush
A dense crowd of people
Crush
Temporary love of an adolescent
Crush
The act of crushing
Crush
Come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority;
The government oppresses political activists
Crush
To compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition;
Crush an aluminum can
Squeeze a lemon
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
Crush
Break into small pieces;
The car crushed the toy
Crush
Humiliate or depress completely;
She was crushed by his refusal of her invitation
The death of her son smashed her
Crush
Crush or bruise;
Jam a toe
Crush
Make ineffective;
Martin Luther King tried to break down racial discrimination
Crush
Become injured, broken, or distorted by pressure;
The plastic bottle crushed against the wall
Common Curiosities
What's a crush?
A crush is a brief, intense attraction towards someone.
Is infatuation the same as love?
No, infatuation is a more intense, often short-lived passion, whereas love is deeper and more enduring.
How can one differentiate between a crush and infatuation?
A crush is more superficial and fleeting, while infatuation is deeper and often more obsessive.
Can you have a crush on someone you've never met?
Yes, people can develop crushes based on someone's online presence or public persona.
Why do people experience infatuation?
Infatuation often arises from an idealized perception of someone, seeing them through "rose-colored glasses."
Can a crush turn into infatuation?
Yes, a crush can develop into infatuation as the feelings intensify.
Can infatuation be harmful?
Infatuation can cloud judgment and can be harmful if it leads to obsessive or unhealthy behavior.
How long does a crush usually last?
A crush is typically short-lived, often fading as one gets to know the person better.
How to cope with an unreciprocated crush or infatuation?
Acceptance, distraction, seeking support, and focusing on self-growth can help cope with unreciprocated feelings.
Is it normal to have multiple crushes?
Yes, it's common for people to experience crushes on more than one person over time.
Can infatuation last years?
While infatuation is generally short-lived, it can, in some cases, last for an extended period.
Do crushes reflect real-life compatibility?
Not necessarily. Crushes often arise from superficial attractions and don't always indicate deep compatibility.
How can one move on from infatuation?
Time, self-reflection, and focusing on other interests or relationships can help in moving on from infatuation.
Is it possible to have a crush on a friend?
Yes, it's possible to develop romantic or intense feelings for someone you initially saw as just a friend.
Does age affect the experience of a crush or infatuation?
While common in adolescence, crushes and infatuation can be experienced at any age.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
