squelched
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /skwɛltʃt/
KK: /skwɛltʃt/
adjective
Definition
Describing something that has been suppressed or silenced, often in a forceful way.
Example
The protest was squelched by the authorities before it could gain momentum.
Conversation
Did you hear about the event that got squelched last minute?
Yeah, I was really looking forward to it.
I know, right? It's such a bummer that everything got squelched like that.
Hopefully, they'll reschedule it for next month.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
suppressed
silenced
stifled
Antonyms
amplified
expressed
unleashed
verb
Definition
To make a soft, squishing sound, often when stepping on something wet or soft.
Example
The children squelched through the muddy puddles after the rain.
Tense Forms
Past: squelched
Past Participle: squelched
Conversation
Did you hear that noise when we stepped in the mud?
Yeah, it sounded like our shoes squelched with every step!
I didn't think it would be that muddy out here.
Root Explanation
Squelched → It originates from the Middle English 'squelchen', meaning to crush or squash, which is likely imitative of the sound made when something is crushed or squashed. The word describes the act of suppressing or silencing something forcefully.
Memory Tip
Imagine the sound of something being crushed or squashed — that's what 'squelched' means, to forcefully suppress or silence.
Visually Confused Words
unsquelched
quelch