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There are two quash verbs in the English language, and although their meanings are similar, they have entirely different origins. Both essentially mean to get rid of something—you can quash a rumor, for example, or you can quash a judicial order. The legal term quash (meaning "to nullify") comes from the Anglo-French words casser or quasser, meaning "to annul," and is ultimately from Latin cassus, "to void." The other quash means "to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely." It derives from the Middle English word quashen, meaning "to smash," and is ultimately from a form of the Latin verb quatere, meaning "to shake."
Examples of quash in a Sentence
Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
But the protests were reignited in March, when Israel’s parliament passed a law remaking the country’s judiciary in what many see as part of Netanyahu’s plan to quash the convictions against him.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 26 June 2025
In the end, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's issuance of the motion to compel, as well as its rejection of the motions to quash and for a protective order.
—Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Obviously, the authorities must quash civil unrest.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for quash
Cite this Entry
“Quash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quash. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quash
2 of 2 verbVerb
Middle English quashen "to smash," from early French quasser, casser (same meaning), from Latin quassare "to shake violently, shatter," from quatere "to shake"
Verb
Middle English quashen "to nullify," from early French casser, quasser "to annul," from Latin cassare (same meaning), from earlier Latin cassus "void"
Legal Definition
quash
transitive verbTransitive verb
Anglo-French quasser, from Middle French casser, quasser, from Late Latin cassare, from Latin cassus void
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