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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
Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025
However, the two seemed to quash rumors with a joint appearance on the first day of Royal Ascot 2025.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 22 June 2025
The defense also tried to subpoena O’Hare, but prosecutors quashed that motion.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2025
Misrepresenting and quashing dissent Protests can serve as a justification for a nascent autocrat to further undermine democratic practices and institutions.
—Jeremy Pressman, The Conversation, 15 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 4 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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