verb

squelch

SKWEHLCH

Squelch (verb) means to suppress or put a stop to something firmly, often suddenly. Example: “The manager quickly squelched the rumour before it spread.”

verb

To suppress or put a stop to something firmly, often suddenly.

"The manager quickly squelched the rumour before it spread."

To make a wet, sucking sound, as when walking through mud.

"His boots squelched with every step across the muddy field."

noun

A wet, sucking sound.

"You could hear the squelch of her wellies in the bog."

How to use squelch

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo crush a rumour or plan firmly, or the squishy sound of walking through mud.

Common pairings

squelch a rumour squelch through mud

Word forms

squelched past tense, squelches plural, squelches singular

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The manager quickly _____ the rumour before it spread.

Etymology

Origin unknown, possibly a blend of squash, quell, and quench.

Synonyms

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crush squeeze splash squash mash slop quell quench squish takedown slosh splosh

Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What does “squelch” mean?

The word “squelch” means to suppress or put a stop to something firmly, often suddenly. In plain terms, to crush a rumour or plan firmly, or the squishy sound of walking through mud.

How do you pronounce “squelch”?

“Squelch” is pronounced SKWEHLCH (/ˈskwɛlt͡ʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “squelch” in a sentence?

Here is “squelch” used in a sentence: “The manager quickly squelched the rumour before it spread.”

What part of speech is “squelch”?

Depending on how it is used, “squelch” can be a verb and a noun.

How many meanings does “squelch” have?

“Squelch” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to suppress or put a stop to something firmly, often suddenly.

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