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There are two quash verbs in the English language, and although their meanings are similar, they have entirely different origins. Both essentially mean to get rid of something—you can quash a rumor, for example, or you can quash a judicial order. The legal term quash (meaning "to nullify") comes from the Anglo-French words casser or quasser, meaning "to annul," and is ultimately from Latin cassus, "to void." The other quash means "to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely." It derives from the Middle English word quashen, meaning "to smash," and is ultimately from a form of the Latin verb quatere, meaning "to shake."
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- clamp down (on)
- crack down (on)
- crush
- put down
- quell
- repress
- silence
- slap down
- snuff (out)
- squash
- squelch
- subdue
- suppress
Verb (2)
Examples of quash in a Sentence
Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
In June 2020, Trump considered deploying troops to American cities to quash the demonstrations.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
Topline The Supreme Court rejected Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s request to be removed from the ballot in two crucial swing states—Wisconsin and Michigan—quashing the last-minute attempt from Kennedy, who has since endorsed former President Donald Trump.
—Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
That’s when Stewart stepped in, scoring four points and getting a huge block at the end of the third quarter to quash the Lynx’s comeback hopes.
—Johannes Sasay-Wada, CNN, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for quash 
Dictionary Entries Near quash
Cite this Entry
“Quash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quash. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quash
2 of 2 verbVerb
Middle English quashen "to smash," from early French quasser, casser (same meaning), from Latin quassare "to shake violently, shatter," from quatere "to shake"
Verb
Middle English quashen "to nullify," from early French casser, quasser "to annul," from Latin cassare (same meaning), from earlier Latin cassus "void"
Legal Definition
quash
transitive verbTransitive verb
Anglo-French quasser, from Middle French casser, quasser, from Late Latin cassare, from Latin cassus void
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