squelch

[skwelch]

verb (used with object)

1. to strike or press with crushing force; crush down; squash.

2. to put down, suppress, or silence, as with a crushing retort or argument.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a splashing sound.

2. to tread heavily in water, mud, wet shoes, etc., with such a sound.

noun

1. a squelched or crushed mass of anything.

2. a splashing sound.

3. an act of squelching or suppressing, as by a crushing retort or argument.

4. Also called noise suppressor. Also called squelch circuit,. Electronics.,  a circuit in a receiver, as a radio receiver, that automatically reduces or eliminates noise when the receiver is tuned to a frequency at which virtually no carrier wave occurs.

squelch

/ skwɛltʃ /

verb

1. (intr) to walk laboriously through soft wet material or with wet shoes, making a sucking noise

2. (intr) to make such a noise

3. (tr) to crush completely; squash

4. informal,  (tr) to silence, as by a crushing retort

noun

1. a squelching sound

2. something that has been squelched

3. electronics a circuit that cuts off the audio-frequency amplifier of a radio receiver in the absence of an input signal, in order to suppress background noise

4. informal,  a crushing remark

Other Word Forms

• squelcher noun
• squelchingly adverb
• squelchingness noun
• unsquelched adjective
• squelching adjective
• squelchy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of squelch¹

1610–20; variant of quelch in same sense (perhaps blend of quell and quash ); initial s perhaps from squash ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of squelch¹

C17: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

If so, such a ruling could squelch discrimination claims from Black and Latino lawmakers in Texas or elsewhere — further clearing the path for partisan gerrymandering.

From Los Angeles Times

And while some have called for more transparency, conservatives in the House of Representatives have repeatedly squelched Democratic attempts to mandate the release of all remaining Epstein files.

From BBC

Hnath’s sequel, without squelching the politics, picks up the forgotten human story of Ibsen’s indelible classic.

From Los Angeles Times

Danger hangs in the air like the clouds over the fields where Sammie works barefoot, mud squelched between his toes.

From Los Angeles Times

Everything about this strange arrangement has worked, every fear has been squelched, all awkwardness has disappeared, and the Lakers have been left with a happily productive father and a gratefully improving son.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crush 
• extinguish 
• muffle 
• oppress 
• repress 
• smother 
• squash 
• stifle 
• thwart