quash

[kwosh]

verb (used with object)

1. to put down or suppress completely; quell; subdue.

   to quash a rebellion.

   Synonyms: repress, quench, squash, crush

2. to make void, annul, or set aside (a law, indictment, decision, etc.).

quash

/ kwɒʃ /

verb

1. to subdue forcefully and completely; put down; suppress

2. to annul or make void (a law, decision, etc)

3. to reject (an indictment, writ, etc) as invalid

Other Word Forms

• unquashed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quash¹

1300–50; Middle English quashen to smash, break, overcome, suppress < Old French quasser, in part < Latin quassāre to shake (frequentative of quatere to shake; concussion ); in part < Late Latin cassāre to annul, derivative of Latin cassus empty, void

Word History and Origins

Origin of quash¹

C14: from Old French quasser, from Latin quassāre to shake

Example Sentences

Roberts repeated the phrase a couple of times, as if he was determined to quash any speculation about another late-season position change for Betts.

From Los Angeles Times

It has raised an ordinary action for reduction - quashing - of the policies relating to schools and prisons, first reported by The Sunday Times.

From BBC

But he argues police are in an impossible situation because social media is fast moving, and officers need to quash falsehoods as quickly as possible.

From BBC

France pushed hundreds of thousands of Cameroonians into internment camps and supported brutal militias to quash the independence struggle, the AFP news agency quotes the report as saying.

From BBC

In the meantime, courts may quash his threatened punishments as illegal or unconstitutional infringements of 1st Amendment rights.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• annul 
• clamp down on 
• crack down on www.thesaurus.com
• invalidate 
• overrule 
• repeal 
• rescind 
• reverse 
• revoke 
• set aside 
• squelch 
• undo 
• vacate 
• veto 
• void