quash

[kwosh]

verb (used with object)

1. to put down or suppress completely; quell; subdue.

   to quash a rebellion.

   Synonyms: repress, quench, squash, crush

2. to make void, annul, or set aside (a law, indictment, decision, etc.).

quash

/ kwɒʃ /

verb

1. to subdue forcefully and completely; put down; suppress

2. to annul or make void (a law, decision, etc)

3. to reject (an indictment, writ, etc) as invalid

Other Word Forms

• unquashed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quash¹

1300–50; Middle English quashen to smash, break, overcome, suppress < Old French quasser, in part < Latin quassāre to shake (frequentative of quatere to shake; concussion ); in part < Late Latin cassāre to annul, derivative of Latin cassus empty, void

Word History and Origins

Origin of quash¹

C14: from Old French quasser, from Latin quassāre to shake

Example Sentences

In that instance, the authority ultimately admitted signage "could be clearer" and quashed both her parking fine and a number of other fines which had been issued on a similar basis.

Read more on BBC

Supreme Court quashed the landmark 2015 conviction that saw him spend more than five years in prison before he was released in 2021.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A former trader who had his conviction quashed for "rigging" interest rates following a 10-year legal battle is suing his former employer UBS.

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The Racing Bulls rookie, who has enjoyed an impressive debut season, quashed suggestions he might make the switch before the end of this year as replacement for Yuki Tsunoda.

Read more on Barron's

Up to 1,400 people were killed in the clashes between July and August 2024 as the security forces tried to quash anti-government protests, according to the United Nations.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• annul 
• clamp down on 
• crack down on www.thesaurus.com
• invalidate 
• overrule 
• repeal 
• rescind 
• reverse 
• revoke 
• set aside 
• squelch 
• undo 
• vacate 
• veto 
• void