squelched

verb

past tense of squelch
1
as in suppressed
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force immediately squelched any signs of rebellion

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shushed
to stop the noise or speech of his irritated glare squelched any other potential objectors

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 squelched Minutes later, 10 more horses squelched through the mud on the trail in front of us. — Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 23 Sep. 2026 Numerous Jewish artists came to Ruffalo’s defense, saying his free speech rights were being squelched. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026 There are snippets from Moby-Dick and The Sound of Music, a nauseous memory of the Stanley Steemer man who used to soak David’s carpets with a toxic cleaning agent that squelched around his bare feet (‘Suck, suck, suck’). — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026 Unfortunately, in 2026, peak activity will coincide with full moon, so most of these streaks will likely be squelched by bright moonlight. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 18 July 2026 For a century, since successive Red Scares squelched socialism in this country, the left has been in a defensive crouch. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 With five miles of walls and hundreds of cannons guarding the harbor, Suomenlinna squelched the Russian threat (at least for the time being). — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026 Gracie’s discovery is squelched and this character’s value to the play comes in establishing how institutional silence can have an equally pernicious impact on confronting social hatreds. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026 As a result, the close relationship that Izquierdo’s Oscar could and should be building with his audience gets squelched by too much clutter. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squelched
  1. suppressed
  2. shushed
  3. quelled
  4. silenced
  5. subdued
  6. quieted
  7. muted
  8. hushed
Verb
  • Sorkin’s problem was that, in reality, at this point in Facebook’s history, the powerful CEO had pushed out all the Roger McNamees, having suppressed dissent within the company.
    — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The rest of the network enacts the decision, as other genes are activated or suppressed farther downstream, but isn’t active in it.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of suppressed
Verb
  • They were repeatedly shushed instead as the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3) fell to 13-10 in their marquee event after failing to keep pace with a USC offense that averaged nearly eight yards per play through the first three quarters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2026
  • As the moment unfolded, Savannah shushed the future king and even briefly placed her hand over his mouth in an effort to keep him composed.
    — Staff Author, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Definition of shushed
Verb
  • Its brutal and ongoing crackdown on protests has quelled a public revolt.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever may have had their WNBA championship dreams quelled Thursday, but the star’s Nike Caitlin 1 signature sneaker story is just getting underway.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of quelled
Verb
  • Here, background activities are limited, notifications are silenced, and blue light is lowered to reduce eye strain.
    — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 8 Oct. 2026
  • When the researchers silenced the somatostatin neurons, the mice stopped trying so hard to avoid the threatening odor in their midst.
    — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of silenced
Verb
  • Armed and hooded, the gang was waved in by Black and surprised, subdued, and handcuffed the other security guards.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The teenager was subdued by the school's principal and taken into custody, according to Polish news agency PAP.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of subdued
Verb
  • It’s been a tumultuous journey but coming to Atlanta this season has been the perfect move for the three-time All-Star, whose accomplishments this year have quieted many of her critics.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • There was a lot of Honolulu Blue in the lower bowl — Lions fans don’t get to see their team in Charlotte very often — but they had been quieted by the end.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of quieted
Verb
  • Shot on England’s coasts and countryside, the film favors muted costumes, no makeup and quiet, lingering scenes, presenting Austen’s young women as emotionally immediate and recognizably modern.
    — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Looming in the medium-term future is the team’s punishment, which could run from dramatic to muted.
    — Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of muted
Verb
  • The lounge is a real scene, especially during afternoon tea, when a perfectly coiffed crowd has hushed discussions about worldly matters.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The normally festive and rowdy crowd inside the basketball arena in Dallas quickly hushed as a five-minute memorial video began playing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of hushed

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squelched
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Cite this Entry

“Squelched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squelched. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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