squash

verb

ˈskwäsh How to pronounce squash (audio)
Definition of squashnext
1
as in to mash
to cause to become a pulpy mass the sort of person who couldn't even squash a bug

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force squashed any effort to reform the country's power structure

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of squash Instead of squashing a volume into an area, these universes seem to cram all the dimensions into a lone quantum point. — Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026 The grand jury findings attempt to explicitly clear the friends who left the island without Wells from any wrongdoing, including trying to squash several online rumors. — Sophie Bates, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026 These forces essentially squash the star horizontally while also stretching it vertically, a process called spaghettification. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2026 But the Avengers woke up in the second half, scoring 41 points to win 48-27 and squash the Royals’ upset hopes. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for squash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squash
  1. mash
  2. quell
  3. crush
  4. suppress
  5. pulp
  6. subdue
  7. squeeze
  8. quash
Verb
  • Cody Bellinger has mashed Peralta in the past, going 6-for-14 against him.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Green Day influence, or maybe early ‘80s new wave mashed together.
    — Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of mash
Verb
  • Shark’s CryoGlow not only targets fine lines but also zaps breakouts and offers soothing cryotherapy to quell under-eye puffiness.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Its brutal and ongoing crackdown on protests has quelled a public revolt.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of quell
Verb
  • Occasional moments of real, spontaneous joy emerge, and others reveal the crushing emptiness of lives going nowhere, but the script doesn’t lean too hard in either direction.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026
  • When Hindenburg crushed Hitler at the polls, in spring 1932, Hitler sought to have the results overturned amid claims of voter fraud with mail-in ballots and irregularities by state officials.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of crush
Verb
  • After security forces suppressed peaceful protests with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, plunging large parts of the country into conflict.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • What explains this difficulty in suppressing the Canal Street counterfeiters?
    — Daniel Edward Rosen, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of suppress
Verb
  • As a result, these books might end up in a landfill, or, depending on their bindings, get broken down and pulped for recycling, or perhaps shredded.
    — Francesca Mancino, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026
  • All remaining copies of the first printing were subsequently pulped in Britain.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of pulp
Verb
  • Armed and hooded, the gang was waved in by Black and surprised, subdued, and handcuffed the other security guards.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Passengers and crew managed to subdue him, according to their own accounts, and an off-duty flight crew on the jet made a safe emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
    — Tucker Reals, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of subdue
Verb
  • But in recent years, the shows have become money losers and the network TV business — faced with a decline in viewers that is squeezing profits — are cutting them loose.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • However, rising costs for housing, food, fuel and insurance coupled with cooling employment rends and the lowest consumer sentiment in a decade is squeezing discretionary spending.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • This new paper highlights a number of topics where scientists might best fill the vacuum created by the White House’s report-quashing actions.
    — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Merz quashed talk within the press and his own party about his possible resignation despite Sunday's losses for his party just two weeks after a crushing defeat in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
    — Esme Nicholson, NPR, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of quash

Browse Nearby Words

squarish
squash
squashed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Squash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squash. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on squash

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about squash

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All