had been squelching

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of squelch.
  squelch

  verb (used with object)

  to strike or press with crushing force; crush down; squash.

Related Words

• crush
• extinguish
• muffle
• oppress
• repress
• smother
• squash
• stifle
• thwart