squash

verb

ˈskwäsh How to pronounce squash (audio)
Definition of squashnext
1
as in to mash
to cause to become a pulpy mass the sort of person who couldn't even squash a bug

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force squashed any effort to reform the country's power structure

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of squash Five-Spice Pumpkin Bread This Five-Spice Pumpkin Bread takes a bold twist on the traditional recipe with roasted Autumn Frost squash and a zesty five-spice powder instead of classic pumpkin spice. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Oct. 2026 Add 1 cup pasta cooking liquid to squash and break up squash with spoon until a saucy consistency. — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026 But police union’s last-minute campaign aims to squash the tax. — Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 The high cost of borrowing has squashed the fixer-upper market too. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for squash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squash
  1. mash
  2. quell
  3. crush
  4. suppress
  5. pulp
  6. subdue
  7. squeeze
  8. quash
Verb
  • Cody Bellinger has mashed Peralta in the past, going 6-for-14 against him.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Green Day influence, or maybe early ‘80s new wave mashed together.
    — Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of mash
Verb
  • The quiet moments of the offseason were eventually quelled by the madness of a young locker room, on a team replete with potential.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The French government has already promised 3,000 extra teachers in a bid to quell the unrest.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of quell
Verb
  • Dodgers three-peat dream dies Milwaukee completed a four-game sweep of the Dodgers with a crushing 6-4 win Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Oregano, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper add a deeper savory element to the cream cheese base.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of crush
Verb
  • By failing to suppress a Democratic campaign ad about the scandal, the Republican Party is only calling more attention to the misuse of $10 million meant for Florida’s Medicaid program.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Critics say the changes could suppress overseas turnout; volunteers have responded with VoteBnB, matching voters with rides and places to stay near polling stations.
    — Branimir Pipal, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of suppress
Verb
  • As a result, these books might end up in a landfill, or, depending on their bindings, get broken down and pulped for recycling, or perhaps shredded.
    — Francesca Mancino, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026
  • All remaining copies of the first printing were subsequently pulped in Britain.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of pulp
Verb
  • Two nurses helped subdue the actress, who was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The interplay between the vocal harmonies phasing from side to side is clear, though the upper melody sounds subdued during the track's busier sections.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of subdue
Verb
  • Meta squeezes two independent light-guiding cores into a single standard glass strand to double its bandwidth.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Fuel expenses are squeezing daily household budgets and tightening cash flow toward the end of the month, with reports indicating a growing number of French employees are requesting payroll advances to manage month end expenses.
    — , CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • During the tenure of Viktor Orbán, news organizations in Hungary were largely brought to heel and critical reporting was quashed.
    — Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2026
  • This new paper highlights a number of topics where scientists might best fill the vacuum created by the White House’s report-quashing actions.
    — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of quash

Browse Nearby Words

squarish
squash
squashed
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Cite this Entry

“Squash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squash. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on squash

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about squash

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