1
as in to suppress
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
immediately squelched any signs of rebellion
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Recent Examples of squelch
Gabrielle M. Etzel, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Jan. 2025
The mere threat appears to be squelching freedom of thought and intellectual exploration in Texas universities already.
—Katie Scofield, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2025
Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 1 Jan. 2023
So Secretary Rusk put a squelch on those missions.
—CBS News, 13 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for squelch
Verb
Sununu said Trump’s nomination of former Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general, which was quickly squelched due to outcry on Capitol Hill, is a prime example of not only challenging the judgment of the current party leader but also dissenting successfully.
—Gabrielle M. Etzel, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Jan. 2025
The mere threat appears to be squelching freedom of thought and intellectual exploration in Texas universities already.
—Katie Scofield, The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2025
Noun
Finally, an electronic squelch.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 1 Jan. 2023
So Secretary Rusk put a squelch on those missions.
—CBS News, 13 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for squelch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squelch
Verb
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The answer is clear: Our city council clings to an outdated system that suppresses voter engagement.—
DP Opinion,
The Denver Post,
4 Mar. 2025
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From algorithmic bias that suppresses Black creators to the unchecked harassment that drives them offline, the need for digital hubs designed with Black users in mind has never been more urgent.—
Jasmine Browley,
Essence,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Duke did things to Illinois on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, in a 110-67 eyeful that wasn’t as close as the final score, to shush talk of a weak ACC potentially costing Cooper and the fighting Flaggs a No. 1 seed.—
Joe Rexrode,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
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Visiting Villa manager Unai Emery had earlier been left angered by the decision to send off Jhon Duran with Tindall later seen shushing the Spaniard in the technical area.—
Callum Davis,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, Grace provides plenty of comic relief as the jittery prisoner who manages to make snarky wisecracks even while on the verge of dying.—
Frank Scheck,
The Hollywood Reporter,
23 Jan. 2025
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Sometimes, his wisecracks and confessional asides come as a direct address.—
Lisa Kennedy,
The Denver Post,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Colloidal oatmeal helps quell any requisite inflammation, while tranexamic acid works to fade spots.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2025
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The state has scrambled to quell the labor dispute.—
Jay Root,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Our social media volunteers, supporters in the diaspora, and activists have had their families harassed and abducted, all in an effort to silence dissent.—
Imran Khan,
TIME,
28 Feb. 2025
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The battle for copyright in the AI age is far from over, but one thing is clear: musicians, writers, and artists are ready to fight back, and they will not be silenced. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn.—
Virginie Berger,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The next day, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz began his speech to the conference with a retort to Vance.—
Massimo Calabresi/Dachau,
TIME,
22 Feb. 2025
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Known for his own sense of humor, Obama dismisses Edwards’ retort, pointing out that the shooting guard has multiple players of similar size as Embiid, making his point null and void.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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As the film concludes, Dr. Cawley and Dr. Sheehan exchange a glance before Andrew (a.k.a. Teddy) is apprehended by guards, which indicates that he will be forced to undergo a lobotomy to subdue his violent behavior.—
Nicole Briese,
People.com,
19 Feb. 2025
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The pub is first and foremost a refuge from women, occasionally a place to display them, more often a scene of affirmation in the business of subduing them.—
Rachel Cusk,
Harper's Magazine,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Deutsche Bank Research economist Sebastian Becker on Friday described the lower core inflation reading as positive and noted that the print is expected to keep falling as wage growth eases and the broader economy remains muted.—
Sophie Kiderlin,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2025
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Congressional Republicans’ responses to Trump’s outrageous comments were largely muted even as a few senators like Thom Tillis came out forcefully in defense of Ukraine and against Vladimir Putin.—
Mordechai Gordon,
Hartford Courant,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squelch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squelch. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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