squelches

Stamps out firmly

Squelches is the verb form of squelch, which means to crush or suppress something forcefully.

You can squelch a rumor, squelch dissent, or squelch someone's enthusiasm.

Squelch also describes the sucking sound made when walking through mud or wet ground: His boots squelched through the marsh.

The word captures both the action and its satisfying sound.

muddy

slosh

Liquid moving messily

muck · ooze · slurp · splat · squish · mire · bog · sludge · mud · swamp

sound

squish

Compress with pressure

  • splatWet striking sound
  • slurpConsume with audible suction
  • sloshLiquid moving messily

gurgle · splatter · plop · schlep · glug · suck · pop · sputter · splash · burble

suppress

quash

Suppress or nullify

subdue · silence · quell · extinguish · stamp out · put down · snuff out · squash · throttle · smother

Opposites
suppression vs. enablement

squelchesencourages

Promotes confidence in others

permits · allows · enables · fosters · nurtures

concealment vs. revelation

squelchesshows

Presents or broadcasts

reveals · exposes · broadcasts · publicizes · announces

Family

squelch, squelched, squelching

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G