squelch

1 of 2

verb

squelched; squelching; squelches

transitive verb

1
a
: to fall or stamp on so as to crush
b(1)
: to completely suppress : quell
squelch resistance
(2)
: silence
squelched the protesters
2
: to emit or move with a sucking sound

intransitive verb

1
: to emit a sucking sound
2
: to splash through water, slush, or mire
squelcher noun

squelch

2 of 2

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
squelchy adjective

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
Verb
Michel was charged with funneling money from a Malaysian financier to Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign through straw donors, then trying to squelch a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration. Michael Kunzelman and Lindsay Whitehurst, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 But as the innings passed, the crowd not only realized what was happening but started pulling for Bunning to squelch the home team. Barry Jacobs – Columnist, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Just when authorities appeared to have squelched all forms of dissent, a willowy, 23-year-old Nicaraguan, Sheynnis Palacios, won the Miss Universe pageant on Nov. 18. Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2023 State prosecutors squelched the defense through witness statements and recorded jail calls. Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 8 Feb. 2024 Trump, on the campaign trail and in private talks, has tried to squelch the deal. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 31 Jan. 2024 The Academic Senate provided guidelines, such as making clear the statement represented faculty members or groups and not the university itself and ensuring that minority or dissenting views are not squelched. Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2024 The call for reforms at Harvard from alumni comes as other schools have seen funds withdrawn from benefactors for not acting quickly enough to squelch antisemitism on campus. Chris Morris, Fortune, 13 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, 25 Jan. 2024
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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of squelch was in 1624

Dictionary Entries Near squelch

Cite this Entry

“Squelch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squelch. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

squelch

1 of 2 noun
1
: a sound of or as if of a squishy substance under suction
the squelch of mud
2
: a remark that silences an opponent

squelch

2 of 2 verb
1
a
: to fall or stamp on so as to crush
b
: to put an end to by force : quell, silence
2
: to make or cause to make a sucking sound
3
: to splash through water, slush, or mire
squelcher noun

More from Merriam-Webster on squelch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!