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 squelch circuit, 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

Derived Forms

• ˈsquelching, adjective
• ˈsquelcher, noun
• ˈsquelchy, adjective

Other Words From

• squelcher noun
• squelching·ly adverb
• squelching·ness noun
• un·squelched 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

This goes back to America’s strata of wealthy enslavers who used white privilege as an incentive to squelch labor unrest among white males by giving them a group to dominate.

From Salon

When it comes to the body horror aspect of it all, “The Substance” delivers on all fronts, from its heightened satire, squelching and crackling sound effects, and revved-up visuals.

From Salon

California legislators have passed a milestone law requiring schools to devise plans to restrict or ban student cellphone use on campus, aiming to squelch classroom distractions and harmful social media use.

From Los Angeles Times

The Senate provided guidelines, such as making clear that statements represented faculty members or groups and not the university and ensuring that minority or dissenting views are not squelched.

From Los Angeles Times

The defense has suggested that Trump was trying to protect his family, not his campaign, by squelching what he says were false, scurrilous claims.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

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