quash

1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈkwäsh 

ˈkwȯsh

quashed; quashing; quashes

transitive verb

: to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely

quash a rebellion

quash

2 of 2

verb (2)

quashed; quashing; quashes

transitive verb

: to nullify especially by judicial action

quash an indictment

Did you know?

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)

• abate
• abolish
• abrogate
• annul
• avoid
• cancel
• disannul
• dissolve
• invalidate
• negate
• null
• nullify
• repeal
• rescind
• roll back
• strike down
• vacate
• void

Examples of quash in a Sentence

Verb (1)

the dictator commanded the army to quash the uprising without mercy

Verb (2)

attorneys asked the court to quash the indictment

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

After public outrage quashed a brash attempt by Congress to increase member pay by 51% in early 1989, a more modest hike of 10% was passed through The Ethics Reform Act of 1989, signed into law by President George Bush on Nov. 30, 1989. —Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024

In June 2020, Trump considered deploying troops to American cities to quash the demonstrations. —Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024

Topline The Supreme Court rejected Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s request to be removed from the ballot in two crucial swing states—Wisconsin and Michigan—quashing the last-minute attempt from Kennedy, who has since endorsed former President Donald Trump. —Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

That’s when Stewart stepped in, scoring four points and getting a huge block at the end of the third quarter to quash the Lynx’s comeback hopes. —Johannes Sasay-Wada, CNN, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English quashen to smash, from Anglo-French quasser, casser, from Latin quassare to shake violently, shatter, frequentative of quatere to shake

Verb (2)

Middle English quassen, from Anglo-French casser, quasser to annul, from Late Latin cassare, from Latin cassus void

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

quash

1 of 2 verb

ˈkwäsh 

ˈkwȯsh

: to put down completely : quell

quash a rebellion

quash

2 of 2 verb

: to cancel by court action

quash a criminal charge

Etymology

Verb

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 verb

ˈkwäsh, ˈkwȯsh 

: to make void : annul sense 2

quash a subpoena

Etymology

Transitive verb

Anglo-French quasser, from Middle French casser, quasser, from Late Latin cassare, from Latin cassus void