SQUELCHED Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

squelched

verb

past tense of squelch

as in suppressed

to put a stop to (something) by the use of force immediately squelched any signs of rebellion

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in shushed

to stop the noise or speech of his irritated glare squelched any other potential objectors

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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

Verb

Some of the footage was played during a dayslong suppression hearing last December, when the defense argued evidence recovered during the arrest should be suppressed because Mangione’s backpack was improperly searched.

— Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
The video included much of what was played during a three-week evidentiary hearing when defense attorneys argued the evidence should be suppressed.

— Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of suppressed

Verb

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
The Giants offense got shushed Wednesday night by Shohei Ohtani, and their hitters went down almost as quietly against right-hander Emmet Sheehan.

— Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 15 May 2026

Definition of shushed

Verb

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
At the very least, a loss would have quelled any desire to inflict further consequences on Michigan.

— Austin Meek, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of quelled

Verb

Kyle Tucker silenced a season’s worth of criticism with a 408-foot, two-run homer in the sixth, giving Dodgers breathing room in a 5-3 NLDS Game 1 win over Atlanta.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
What’s worse, the law put the onus on them to ask to be silenced.

— Gretchen Carlson, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of silenced

Verb

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
Their raucous conversation quieted as the odd trio approached.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of quieted

Verb

There’s no flashy design and no over-the-top exterior, instead muted hues and lots of marble.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
In lectures and seminars, his cleft palate caused his voice to be muted and his pronunciation at times unclear.

— Peter E. Gordon, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of muted

Verb

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
Moments ago, the courtroom was hushed when the mistrial was declared, marking an emotional close for this jury in the nearly six-week trial.

— Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of hushed

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“Squelched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squelched. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of squelched

verb

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