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

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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
  • In a second bowl, mash the bananas, then add sugar, butter and eggs, and mix well.
    — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • None should be feared more than the slugging Junior Caminero, who will get MVP votes after mashing 42 homers.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of mash
Verb
  • Europe hardens on migration as nationalist support grows European countries sought to harden migration rules in a bid to quell support for nationalist parties across the continent.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Riot police deployed to quell a protest typically arrange themselves into a square tactical unit.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of quell
Verb
  • This sees the star's core, with a mass between one and two times that of the sun, crush down to a width of around 12 miles (20 kilometers).
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Agrumato is a proprietary method of crushing whole ingredients with the olives to impart robust flavors.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of crush
Verb
  • These adjectives express the behavior that Reilly studied movies to learn how to suppress.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Becerra seems to either be suppressing a cough or hyperventilating at the bit of responding to Hilton’s vaccine vacuousness.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 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
  • His actions nearly crashed the flight with 182 people on board before passengers and others rushed in and subdued him.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Abiy has tried and failed to subdue Tigray’s rebellious leaders in recent months, with TPLF Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael openly challenging him.
    — Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of subdue
Verb
  • But the highlight of the spa is the infinity-edge rock pool, squeezed into a canyon between towering rock walls, with views out over the valley beyond.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • It’s being squeezed by all sorts of forces, commercial forces, corporate forces, political forces.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 5 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
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Cite this Entry

“Squash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squash. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on squash

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about squash

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