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
squash
verb
1
as in to mash
to cause to become a pulpy mass the sort of person who couldn't even squash a bug Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- mash
- crush
- squeeze
- pulp
- press
- pound
- powder
- beat
- pulverize
2
as in to quell
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force squashed any effort to reform the country's power structure Synonyms & Similar Words
- quell
- subdue
- suppress
- crush
- quash
- squelch
- silence
- repress
- sit on
- destroy
- stifle
- extinguish
- overcome
- slap down
- crack down (on)
- clamp down (on)
- put down
- demolish
- snuff (out)
- smash
- smother
- decimate
- nuke
- throttle
- wipe out
- waste
- conquer
- annihilate
- dominate
- ruin
- subjugate
- wreck
- put out
- obliterate
- douse
- exterminate
- vanquish
- strangle
- quench
- rub out
- desolate
- overwhelm
- overpower
- dowse
- devastate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- support
- help
- aid
- assist
- back
- stir
- provoke
- incite
- cultivate
- nurture
- foment
- whip (up)
- instigate
- promote
- encourage
- foster
- forward
- nourish
- abet
- prop up
- advance
- further