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

An appeal to quash her conviction was thrown out.

From BBC

Her conviction was quashed in 2021 but it has taken more than four and a half years to prepare her claim, including being asked to submit five medical reports.

From BBC

An active investigation into the president’s border advisor over an alleged bribery scheme involving a $50,000 payout was quashed by the White House itself.

From Los Angeles Times

For Everton, this is a ground where hopes of success are routinely quashed.

From BBC

This amounts to prior restraint, an unconstitutional quashing of free speech before a violation has occurred, they ruled.

From Salon

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