squash
1 of 4verb
ˈskwäsh 
ˈskwȯsh
squashed; squashing; squashes
transitive verb
1
: to press or beat into a pulp or a flat mass : crush
2
: put down, suppress
squash a revolt
intransitive verb
1
: to flatten out under pressure or impact
2
: to proceed with a splashing or squelching sound
squash through the mud
3
: squeeze, press
squasher noun
squash
2 of 4noun (1)
1
obsolete : something soft and easily crushed
specifically : an unripe pod of peas
2
: the sudden fall of a heavy soft body or the sound of such a fall
3
: squelch sense 1
4
: a crushed mass
5
British : sweetened citrus fruit juice often served with added soda water
6
: a singles or doubles game played in a 4-wall court with a long-handled racket and a rubber ball that can be hit off any number of walls
squash
3 of 4adverb
: with a squash or a squashing sound
squash
4 of 4noun (2)
plural squashes or squash
: any of various fruits of plants (genus Cucurbita) of the gourd family widely cultivated as vegetables
also : a plant and especially a vine that bears squashes compare summer squash, winter squash
Synonyms
Verb
- crush
- mash
- pulp
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He squashed his nose against the window. His poor performance squashed any hope he had of a promotion. The boss squashed my idea immediately. Someone had squashed all the ribbons together in one box.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
alteration of Middle English squachen to crush, annul, from Anglo-French esquacher, from Old French es- ex- + quachier to hide from view, from Vulgar Latin *coacticare to press together — more at cache
Noun (2)
by shortening & alteration from earlier isquoutersquash, from Narragansett askútasquash
First Known Use
Verb
1565, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (1)
1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adverb
1766, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1634, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing squash
Kids Definition
squash 1 of 2
verb
ˈskwäsh
squashed; squashing
: to beat or press into a soft or flat mass : crush
squash
2 of 2noun
: the fruit of a plant related to the gourd that comes in many varieties and is usually eaten as a vegetable
Medical Definition
squash
noun
ˈskwäsh, ˈskwȯsh
: a bit of tissue crushed between a slide and cover glass and stained in situ especially for cytological study of chromosomes
squashed
verb
1
as in mashed
to cause to become a pulpy mass the sort of person who couldn't even squash a bug Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- mashed
- crushed
- squeezed
- pressed
- pulped
- pulverized
- pounded
- beat
- powdered
2
as in suppressed
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force squashed any effort to reform the country's power structure Synonyms & Similar Words
- suppressed
- quelled
- crushed
- subdued
- quashed
- squelched
- repressed
- stifled
- silenced
- destroyed
- sat on
- extinguished
- overcame
- demolished
- slapped down
- throttled
- smothered
- decimated
- smashed
- cracked down (on)
- obliterated
- snuffed (out)
- clamped down (on)
- wrecked
- put down
- strangled
- ruined
- annihilated
- doused
- exterminated
- dominated
- quenched
- vanquished
- conquered
- wasted
- nuked
- subjugated
- wiped out
- overwhelmed
- overpowered
- put out
- devastated
- dowsed
- desolated
- rubbed out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- backed
- supported
- helped
- assisted
- aided
- stirred
- provoked
- incited
- abetted
- promoted
- instigated
- cultivated
- encouraged
- fostered
- nurtured
- propped up
- whipped (up)
- forwarded
- fomented
- nourished
- furthered
- advanced