Squelching: meaning, definitions and examples
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squelching
[ ˈskwɛl.tʃɪŋ ]
sound effects
Squelching is a sound produced when a wet or soft surface is compressed, often accompanied by suction. It describes the noise made when stepping in mud or thick, moist ground. The term can also imply a forceful suppression of something, like squelching an idea or a rebellion. In both contexts, it evokes imagery of something being abruptly halted or held back.
Synonyms
dampen, muffle, squelch, suppress
Examples of usage
- He heard the squelching sound of his boots in the mud.
- The squelching of the sponge as it soaked up water was satisfying.
- The government is squelching dissent among its citizens.
- She tried to squelch her laughter during the serious meeting.
Translations
Translations of the word "squelching" in other languages:
🇵🇹 squelching
- abafar
- sufocar
🇮🇳 चिढ़ाना
- दबाना
- कुचलना
🇩🇪 squelching
- unterdrücken
- dämpfen
🇮🇩 menghentikan
- menekan
- membungkam
🇺🇦 пригнічення
- придушення
- заглушення
🇵🇱 tłumienie
- kneblowanie
- duszenie
🇯🇵 押さえつける
- 圧迫する
- 鎮圧する
🇫🇷 répression
- étouffement
- suppression
🇪🇸 sofocamiento
- represión
- aplastamiento
🇹🇷 susturma
- boğma
- bastırma
🇰🇷 억압하는
- 눌러주는
- 억제하는
🇸🇦 كبت
- قمع
- إخماد
🇨🇿 potlačování
- utlačování
- dusení
🇸🇰 potláčanie
- utláčanie
- dusenie
🇨🇳 压制
- 压迫
- 抑制
🇸🇮 zadušitev
- zatiranje
- potlačevanje
🇮🇸 þrýstingur
- bæling
- kvölun
🇰🇿 тұншықтыру
- басу
- жаншу
🇬🇪 დამახსოვრება
- ჩახშობა
- დათრგუნვა
🇦🇿 sıxma
- boğma
- basdırma
🇲🇽 sofocación
- represión
- aplastamiento
Word origin
The term 'squelch' originates from the early 19th century, deriving from the Old English word 'squelcan' which means to 'squash' or 'crush.' The imagery often relates to the sound made when something soft is stepped on or compressed. Over time, it evolved to include both the literal sound of wet footsteps and a figurative sense of suppression or extinguishing a sound or movement. The onomatopoeic quality of the word captures the essence of the action, making it vivid in both written and spoken forms. By the 20th century, 'squelch' found its way into diverse contexts, from descriptions of nature to political discourse, illustrating the versatility of the term in both everyday and more formal language.