1
as in to suppress
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
immediately squelched any signs of rebellion
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Recent Examples of squelch
Niall Stanage, The Hill, 22 Mar. 2025
Porter, 28, helped dig a fire break to prevent the blaze from spreading and used a mule team to haul water to squelch the blaze.
—Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 1 Jan. 2023
So Secretary Rusk put a squelch on those missions.
—CBS News, 13 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for squelch
Verb
But Democrats and other Trump critics worry about a broader attempt to squelch dissent.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 22 Mar. 2025
Porter, 28, helped dig a fire break to prevent the blaze from spreading and used a mule team to haul water to squelch the blaze.
—Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for squelch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squelch
Verb
-
But its assertions are characteristic of the Trump administration’s systemic denial of trans lives, and signal further movement by HHS toward policies that seek to suppress trans identities among young people.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them.,
1 May 2025
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The Empire started mining the planet for energy and suppressing the Ghormans, so the upstart rebels attack a transport ship full of supplies.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
1 May 2025
Verb
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One day at the Scottish Open, a volunteer held up the quiet sign and shushed the crowd as Morikawa prepared to hit from the fairway.—
Brody Miller,
The Athletic,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Fathers shushed babbling toddlers as their wives snuck out to change infants’ diapers.—
Carlos Nogueras Ramos,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
While the rest of the baseball world was exchanging pranks, put-ons, and wisecracks, the cracks got bigger in a foundation that looks like it was shaken, not stirred – as James Bond used to say in ordering a martini.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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Garcia inspired a steady stream of social media wisecracks by pairing the red hat and shirt for his LIV Golf team, Fireballs GC, with bright yellow pants.—
Brooks Peck,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The Trump administration has engaged in efforts to quell dissent in corporate America, the civil service, universities and the media.—
Katie Benner,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
-
Seemingly hoping to quell the backlash, the strange fliers seem like an attempt to push back by sowing discord.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In the past, survivors have been silenced or discouraged by a system that often sided with abusers.—
Ali Martin,
Christian Science Monitor,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Trump, through his onslaught of executive orders, wants to see the adversaries silenced.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Last week, Johnson’s office walked back one of his sharpest retorts to Trump yet, over the president’s threats to revoke funds from school districts that promote diversity, equity and inclusion practices.—
Dan Petrella,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Cena delivered more gems on the mic, but Rhodes had some solid retorts.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Hundreds of Ghor are killed, stormtroopers patrol the streets, and KX-series security droids are unleashed like hulking monsters, subduing random humans to death.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Vulture,
7 May 2025
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Nichols fled after being pulled from his car and was later subdued and struck repeatedly with fists, boots, a Taser and a baton.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2025
Verb
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Its emotional impact is muted and its romance almost purely conceptual, but the fact that Qiaoqiao and Brother Bin’s affection — or even more awareness — survive all of this tumult and transformation is moving unto itself, as is Jia’s dedication to documenting that change.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
9 May 2025
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Yet their evaluations of CIA excesses are oddly muted, as if botched attempts to murder foreign leaders were just another form of intelligence failure.—
James Santel,
The Atlantic,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squelch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squelch. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
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