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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squelch
Larry Neumeister, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Stylistically, the album feels of a piece with the work of post-Earl MCs like MIKE or Navy Blue, delivering meditations over electro-funk loops resplendent with squelching synths, twinkling keys, and Jimmy Jam drums.
—Liam Inscoe-Jones, Pitchfork, 5 Mar. 2026
Nina MacLaughlin, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2023
Finally, an electronic squelch.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 1 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for squelch
Verb
The continuation of the trial will leave the states to press claims to further dismantle a monopoly the Justice Department said was squelching competition and driving up prices for fans.
—Larry Neumeister, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Stylistically, the album feels of a piece with the work of post-Earl MCs like MIKE or Navy Blue, delivering meditations over electro-funk loops resplendent with squelching synths, twinkling keys, and Jimmy Jam drums.
—Liam Inscoe-Jones, Pitchfork, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
Finally, an electronic squelch.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 1 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for squelch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squelch
Verb
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The San Bernardino County Fire Department tested new technology on Monday designed to help suppress fires by using sound waves.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Acknowledge anxiety, sadness or grief with openness, instead of trying to suppress those feelings or fueling them with harsh self-criticism.—
J. David Creswell,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some shushed the crowds, urging them to be silent and reverent.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Levy sat on the floor, watching like a proud father and shushing whisperers.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There were none of Trump’s customary wisecracks, no theatrical asides.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
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Barry Diller was full of wisecracks tonight at the PGA Awards.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At a congressional hearing, a combative Bondi tried to quell the Epstein files controversy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
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The hearing At a congressional hearing, a combative Bondi tried to quell the Epstein files controversy.—
Jennifer Peltz,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Under both regimes, Black voices and ideas are silenced.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Mar. 2026
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It was finally silenced, to cheers from the crowd, but then the main scoreboard and video screen that hangs over the middle of the court went dark.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If, by our standard, that is glaring plagiarism, the obvious retort is that the standard of the early seventeenth century was a very different beast.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
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LeBron James didn’t hold back from his retorts over his late-in-the-game elbow injury Thursday night against the Denver Nuggets.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Police attempted multiple nonlethal methods to subdue the man, including the use of a Taser and pepper spray, before one officer fired a gun.—
Nikiya Carrero,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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Backed by his wife’s wealthy family, Coronado hoped to amass a fortune equal to that of Hernan Cortez, who had brutally subdued the Aztecs.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The findings reveal a lot of variance by sector, and muted total job growth.—
Bob Herman,
STAT,
30 Mar. 2026
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This year’s hard freeze that melted most of our daffodils also took the edge off many of the Bradford pear blooms, muting the usual burst of white flowers across the landscape.—
Markis Hill,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squelch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squelch. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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