Squelching: meaning, definitions and examples

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squelching

 

[ ˈskwɛl.tʃɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

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

🇮🇳 चिढ़ाना

🇩🇪 squelching

🇮🇩 menghentikan

🇺🇦 пригнічення

🇵🇱 tłumienie

🇯🇵 押さえつける

🇫🇷 répression

🇪🇸 sofocamiento

🇹🇷 susturma

🇰🇷 억압하는

🇸🇦 كبت

🇨🇿 potlačování

🇸🇰 potláčanie

🇨🇳 压制

🇸🇮 zadušitev

🇮🇸 þrýstingur

🇰🇿 тұншықтыру

🇬🇪 დამახსოვრება

🇦🇿 sıxma

🇲🇽 sofocación

Etymology

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.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,608, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.