1To crush, smash, or flatten something by applying force — physically deforming its shape.
飲み終わった缶を足で潰してからゴミ箱に捨てた。
I crushed the empty can with my foot before throwing it in the trash.
ゆでたじゃがいもをフォークで潰してマッシュポテトを作る。
Mash the boiled potatoes with a fork to make mashed potatoes.
満員電車で荷物が潰れそうになった。
My bag nearly got crushed on the packed train.
重いものを上に乗せたら箱が潰れてしまった。
The box got crushed when something heavy was placed on top of it.
2To drive a shop or company out of business, forcing it to shut down.
近くに大型スーパーができて、昔からの商店街が次々潰されてしまった。
A large supermarket opened nearby, and one by one it drove the old shopping street's stores out of business.
経営陣は赤字続きの支店を潰すことを決めた。
The management decided to shut down the branch that had been running at a loss.
悪質な口コミのせいで、あの店は潰れてしまった。
That shop went out of business because of malicious reviews.
3To wreck or thwart a plan, negotiation, or opportunity so that it falls through.
彼の一言が、まとまりかけていた話を潰してしまった。
His one remark wrecked the deal that had been coming together.
台風のせいで週末の花火大会の予定が潰れた。
The weekend fireworks festival plans were ruined by the typhoon.
せっかくのチャンスを自分のミスで潰したくない。
I don't want to blow this rare opportunity through my own mistake.
4To slaughter or butcher an animal, typically livestock, for food.
正月のごちそうのために鶏を潰す家もまだある。
Some households still slaughter a chicken for the New Year's feast.
5To pass the time doing something when there's nothing particular to do; commonly used as 暇をつぶす ("to kill time").
電車を待つ間、スマホを見て時間を潰した。
I killed time on my phone while waiting for the train.
約束の時間まで一時間もあったので、カフェで暇を潰した。
There was still an hour before the appointed time, so I killed time at a café.
退屈な待合室で、雑誌を読んで時間を潰した。
In the boring waiting room, I passed the time reading magazines.
6To waste or stifle someone's talent or potential, preventing it from ever being realized.
厳しすぎる指導は、かえって子供の才能を潰しかねない。
Overly harsh coaching can end up stifling a child's talent.
彼女の可能性を潰さないよう、上司はあえて口を出さなかった。
Her boss deliberately held back from interfering, so as not to stifle her potential.