squelch

UK: skwɛltʃ | US: skwɛltʃ

Definition

  1. vt. to crush or silence something forcefully

  2. vi. to make a wet, sucking sound (e.g., footsteps in mud)

  3. n. a squashing sound or act of suppressing

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

The word squelch is onomatopoeic, mimicking the wet, muffled sound of something being crushed or stepped on in mud. The -ch suffix reinforces the abrupt, noisy quality of the action. First recorded in the early 17th century, it originally described sounds but later expanded to metaphorical meanings like "suppress."

Examples

  1. The mud squelched under his boots as he walked.

  2. She squelched the rumor before it spread.

  3. A loud squelch came from the wet sponge.

  4. The government tried to squelch dissent.

  5. His joke was met with an awkward squelch of silence.