Brucker Bears 4-5: squelch

Friday, February 22, 2013

squelch

(v) - To squelch something is to stop it from continuing to develop or spread. Also, squelch can be used to describe the sucking sound made by walking or moving in something soft and wet.

Synonyms: squish, hold down, hold back, hamper, smother
Antonyms: allow, release, encourage
Etymology: 1620s English, meaning "to fall, drop, or stomp on something (soft) with crushing force," possibly an onomatopoeia because of the sound made. The use of this word to mean "squash" was first recorded in 1864.
Example: Art teachers have to be very careful when showing examples so that they don't squelch their students' own creativity.

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