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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."
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- clamp down (on)
- crack down (on)
- crush
- put down
- quell
- repress
- silence
- slap down
- snuff (out)
- squash
- squelch
- subdue
- suppress
Verb (2)
Examples of quash in a Sentence
Devoun Cetotute, Miami Herald, 16 June 2024
The 50-300mm relies on a correction profile to quash an optical vignette and some distortion.
—PCMAG, 6 June 2024
In 1831, an enslaved preacher named Nat Turner led an uprising that was inevitably quashed, yet promised more to come.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2024
In March, federal judge Katherine Polk Failla denied the firm’s motion to quash the case.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for quash 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quash.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near quash
Cite this Entry
“Quash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quash. Accessed 28 Jun. 2024.
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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