squelched; squelching; squelches
1
2
: to emit or move with a sucking sound
squelcher
noun
1
: a sound of or as if of semiliquid matter under suction
the squelch of mud
2
: the act of suppressing
especially
: a retort that silences an opponent
Synonyms
Examples of squelch in a Sentence
Verb
immediately squelched any signs of rebellion
his irritated glare squelched any other potential objectors
Recent Examples on the Web
Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023
He was also accused of trying to squelch a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration.
—Bill Donahue, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2023
Eager to let their hair down following a year in which the annual festivities were squelched by Covid, the crowd, made up mostly of people in their 20s, instead walked into a death trap.
—Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2023
In those legal proceedings, Kennedy framed his case as one of a humble football coach whose quiet prayers were squelched by a hostile school district.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 8 Sep. 2023
And institutions should be supporting discussion, not squelching it.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2023
Michel was accused of funneling money from a now-fugitive Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, then trying to squelch a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration.
—Lindsay Whitehurst, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2023
The Chinese government is pouring billions of dollars annually into a global campaign of disinformation, using investments abroad and an array of tactics to promote Beijing’s geopolitical aims and squelch criticism of its policies, according to a new State Department assessment.
—Michael R. Gordon, WSJ, 28 Sep. 2023
As a young reporter, Wolfe rebuffed ambitious Sen. John F. Kennedy’s attempt to squelch an article.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2023
Nina MacLaughlin, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2023
The major social-media and tech companies have already done their share to pervert civil discourse and shatter consensus and squelch reason, all to make a buck.
—Sam Lipsyte, Harper's Magazine, 12 Apr. 2022
Finally, an electronic squelch.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 1 Jan. 2023
So Secretary Rusk put a squelch on those missions.
—CBS News, 13 Oct. 2021
Those subtitles became a sensation among fans: [Tentacles undulating moistly], [wet footsteps squelch], [tense music intensifies] are as memorable as Vecna himself.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 8 July 2022
With every mile walked, every sprain of ankle, every squelch of bog, the beer tasted sweeter.
—Oliver Smith, Outside Online, 15 Jan. 2020
With a small, one-handed hoe, a planter opened a hole in the wet earth, which parted with a squelch.
—New York Times, 13 July 2022
Squelch, squelch, squish, grunt, clang, yell, grunt, clang, squish, squish, squidge.
—Jess Grey, Wired, 16 Oct. 2021
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Verb
The Fed needs to be seen as independent and tough, and to squelch inflation, as Mr. Volcker did.
—Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023
He was also accused of trying to squelch a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration.
—Bill Donahue, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2023
Eager to let their hair down following a year in which the annual festivities were squelched by Covid, the crowd, made up mostly of people in their 20s, instead walked into a death trap.
—Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2023
In those legal proceedings, Kennedy framed his case as one of a humble football coach whose quiet prayers were squelched by a hostile school district.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 8 Sep. 2023
And institutions should be supporting discussion, not squelching it.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2023
Michel was accused of funneling money from a now-fugitive Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, then trying to squelch a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration.
—Lindsay Whitehurst, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2023
The Chinese government is pouring billions of dollars annually into a global campaign of disinformation, using investments abroad and an array of tactics to promote Beijing’s geopolitical aims and squelch criticism of its policies, according to a new State Department assessment.
—Michael R. Gordon, WSJ, 28 Sep. 2023
As a young reporter, Wolfe rebuffed ambitious Sen. John F. Kennedy’s attempt to squelch an article.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2023
Noun
Poems of ‘human residue’ in a new collection Joe Hall’s poems move between a fist-pounding urgency, the fire and squelch of this moment of our endtime, and a vulnerability hushed and gentle as a nightgown on a laundry line.
—Nina MacLaughlin, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2023
The major social-media and tech companies have already done their share to pervert civil discourse and shatter consensus and squelch reason, all to make a buck.
—Sam Lipsyte, Harper's Magazine, 12 Apr. 2022
Finally, an electronic squelch.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 1 Jan. 2023
So Secretary Rusk put a squelch on those missions.
—CBS News, 13 Oct. 2021
Those subtitles became a sensation among fans: [Tentacles undulating moistly], [wet footsteps squelch], [tense music intensifies] are as memorable as Vecna himself.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 8 July 2022
With every mile walked, every sprain of ankle, every squelch of bog, the beer tasted sweeter.
—Oliver Smith, Outside Online, 15 Jan. 2020
With a small, one-handed hoe, a planter opened a hole in the wet earth, which parted with a squelch.
—New York Times, 13 July 2022
Squelch, squelch, squish, grunt, clang, yell, grunt, clang, squish, squish, squidge.
—Jess Grey, Wired, 16 Oct. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'squelch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
origin unknown
First Known Use
Verb
1624, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near squelch
Cite this Entry
“Squelch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squelch. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
squelch
1 of 2 noun1
: a sound of or as if of a squishy substance under suction
the squelch of mud
2
: a remark that silences an opponent
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