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

The low, squelching funk of the beat and Richman’s high falsetto were tuned to such a uniquely perfect frequency that everyone was happy to hear them, again and again, and again. —Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024

Success on the track can squelch hate derived from sexism and Breidinger has the ability and the opportunity to silence the haters. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

Noun

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

Poems of ‘human residue’ in a new collection Joe Hall’s poems move between a fist-pounding urgency, the fire and squelch of this moment of our endtime, and a vulnerability hushed and gentle as a nightgown on a laundry line. —Nina MacLaughlin, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2023

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