quash

[kwosh]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR quash ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to put down or suppress completely; quell; subdue: to quash a rebellion.

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

Origin of quash

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

Related formsun·quashed, adjective

Synonyms for quash

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR quash ON THESAURUS.COM

1. crush, squash, quench, repress.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for quash

suppress, squash, repress, crush, quell, invalidate, annul, revoke, reverse, veto, void, undo, vacate, squelch, repeal, overrule, rescind, scrunch, annihilate, subdue

Examples from the Web for quash

Contemporary Examples of quash

Putin had to put on a show with lots of lights and dancing, but quash the gay factor.
Sorry Putin, the Sochi Opening Ceremony Was Totally Gay
Tim Teeman
February 7, 2014
Fergie did nothing to quash rumors of remarriage when asked about the controversial subject this weekend, reports Tom Sykes.
Fergie Remarriage Rumors Heat Up as She Says, ‘Andrew Will Always Be My Prince!’
Tom Sykes
September 30, 2013
Egyptian forces have also launched a series of coordinated operations in Sinai in an attempt to quash rising insurgency.
A Bloody Assassination Attempt in Egypt
Sophia Jones
September 5, 2013
But despite rumors of a Game of Thrones theme, Parker was quick to quash the speculation.
Sean Parker Weds Alexandra Lenas, ‘Game of Thrones’ Theme a Mystery
Nina Strochlic
June 2, 2013
It all seems perfectly choreographed to quash the assumption that she is no more than a little flirt.
Petraeus Affair Stereotypes: The General, The Flirt And The Harlot
Robin Givhan
November 15, 2012

Historical Examples of quash

Come, Quash, into the bush, and help me to look at the other scratches and dress them.
The Rover of the Andes
R.M. Ballantyne
But, then, he had had to quash the thought that suggested it.
It Never Can Happen Again
William De Morgan
Challis tried to reason away its witchery—to quash its jurisdiction.
It Never Can Happen Again
William De Morgan
Under those circumstances no other course was open to us but to quash them.
The Seven Curses of London
James Greenwood
Vide mouse, and a hundred more roots, that might quash this rule.
Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 112, December 20, 1851
Various

British Dictionary definitions for quash

quash

verb (tr)

to subdue forcefully and completely; put down; suppress

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

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

Word Origin for quash

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for quash

"to make void, annul," early 14c., from Old French quasser, casser "to annul, declare void," and directly from Medieval Latin quassare, alteration of Late Latin cassare, from cassus "null, void, empty" (see caste (n.)).

Meaning "to break, crush," is early 14c., from Old French quasser, casser "to break, smash, injure, harm, weaken," from Latin quassare "to shatter," frequentative of quatere (past participle quassus) "to shake," from PIE root *kwet- "to shake" (cf. Greek passein "to sprinkle," Lithuanian kuteti "to shake up," Old Saxon skuddian "to move violently," German schütteln "to shake," Old English scudan "to hasten").

The words have influenced each other in form and sense since Medieval Latin and now are somewhat grown together. Related: Quashed; quashing.