1
as in to suppress
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
immediately squelched any signs of rebellion
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Recent Examples of squelch
Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Dec. 2025
Putin continued to believe that Russia could squelch Ukraine’s will to fight and eventually the West would tire of serving as a backstop; Zelensky was ready for compromise but not capitulation.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2025
Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 1 Jan. 2023
The major social-media and tech companies have already done their share to pervert civil discourse and shatter consensus and squelch reason, all to make a buck.
—Sam Lipsyte, Harper's Magazine, 12 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for squelch
Verb
Legal matters might squelch your plans.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Dec. 2025
Putin continued to believe that Russia could squelch Ukraine’s will to fight and eventually the West would tire of serving as a backstop; Zelensky was ready for compromise but not capitulation.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2025
Noun
Finally, an electronic squelch.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 1 Jan. 2023
The major social-media and tech companies have already done their share to pervert civil discourse and shatter consensus and squelch reason, all to make a buck.
—Sam Lipsyte, Harper's Magazine, 12 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for squelch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squelch
Verb
-
Nevertheless, the free spirit of Americans cannot be suppressed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The royal government was also known as a dictatorship for banning political parties, suppressing revolts and political opposition, controlling the press and having its own secret police force called SAVAK.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Some shushed the crowds, urging them to be silent and reverent.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Levy sat on the floor, watching like a proud father and shushing whisperers.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One last wisecrack to remember his coach by.—
Daniel Brown,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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Chock-full of laugh-out-loud quips and wisecracks, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski and Cheryl Hines also join in on the fun in the boisterous 2017 sequel to the 2016 original Bad Moms.—
Lydia Price,
PEOPLE,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
His statement did little to quell the outrage.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
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Soon after the national security law imposed by Beijing to quell the 2019 massive pro-democracy demonstrations took effect in June 2020, police arrested Lai.—
Kanis Leung,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The quiet ethic often called Minnesota Nice is outshining the intimidation meant to silence dissent.—
Valeng Cha,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
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Universities are under threat of government interference, book banning has reached unprecedented levels, journalists and artists and media outlets and attorneys are being punished, silenced, and doxed, and dissent everywhere is being criminalized.—
Gioia Woods,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Affleck's Will retorts as a wink to David Schwimmer's line as Ross Geller to Aniston's Rachel Green on Friends.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Feb. 2026
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That retort was also the title of her 2020 comedy special.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The last Winter Olympics, held in Beijing during COVID, were subdued.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Fans in the arena have been fairly subdued, but an in-house DJ has made a steady stream of dance hits the day’s soundtrack.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The actors’ interactions are charged, but the slow burn of Brontë’s characters’ hatred and yearning is muted.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
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So for anyone who’s struggling to create that distance, Jeter suggests starting small and committing to just one month of no direct communication—along with blocking or muting them online.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squelch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squelch. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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