squelch

1 of 2

verb

ˈskwelch 

squelched; squelching; squelches

transitive verb

1

a

: to fall or stamp on so as to crush

b(1)

: to completely suppress : quell

squelch resistance

(2)

: silence

squelched the protesters

2

: to emit or move with a sucking sound

intransitive verb

1

: to emit a sucking sound

2

: to splash through water, slush, or mire

squelcher noun

squelch

2 of 2

noun

1

: a sound of or as if of semiliquid matter under suction

the squelch of mud

2

: the act of suppressing

especially : a retort that silences an opponent

squelchy

ˈskwel-chē 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• clamp down (on)
• crack down (on)
• crush
• put down
• quash
• quell
• repress
• silence
• slap down
• snuff (out)
• squash
• subdue
• suppress

Examples of squelch in a Sentence

Verb

immediately squelched any signs of rebellion

his irritated glare squelched any other potential objectors

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

At Carnegie, Dohr, a legend in the profession, squelched a note or two, and the veteran oboe-and-clarinet team of Albrecht Mayer and Wenzel Fuchs fell momentarily out of synch in the Adagio. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

Interestingly, Perry herself was being squelched by Columbia until the late executive Angelica Cob-Baehler brought her over to Capitol. —Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024

Noun

Suddenly, however, there’s a loud squelch: Myung-gi has shoved a fork up into the flesh under Thanos’s jaw. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 26 Dec. 2024

The energy is uniformly banging, but there’s a wry sense of humor encoded into every errant squelch. —Pitchfork, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1624, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

squelch

1 of 2 noun

ˈskwelch 

1

: a sound of or as if of a squishy substance under suction

the squelch of mud

2

: a remark that silences an opponent

squelch

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to fall or stamp on so as to crush

b

: to put an end to by force : quell, silence

2

: to make or cause to make a sucking sound

3

: to splash through water, slush, or mire

squelcher noun