squish

American  

[skwish] / skwɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to squeeze or squash.

   It's a soft bread, so it's easy to accidentally squish it while cutting.

   The long ride was going to be uncomfortable, what with having to squish six people into a tiny car.

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verb (used without object)

1. to make a gushing or splashing sound.

   His soaking wet sneakers squished as he plodded by.

   I waded out of the river, mud squishing between my toes.

2. to become squeezed or squashed.

   The softer containers can squish down when empty, allowing them to take up less space.

3. to make one's way with a gushing or splashing sound.

   We said our goodbyes, and she squished away to the bus stop in the rain.

noun

1. a gushing or splashing sound.

   I thought I was alone in the woods until I heard the squish of footsteps on wet leaves.

2. an instance of being squeezed or squashed.

   The table could seat four people, but it would be a squish.

3. Slang. a politician, especially a Republican, who is perceived by members of their own party as overly moderate or willing to compromise.

   His rival in the party claimed he was a squish who cared more about making deals than sticking to his beliefs.

4. Slang. an intense feeling of infatuation that is not romantic or sexual in nature; a platonic crush.

   I had such a squish on her when we first met, but luckily it worked out and now she's my best friend.

squish British  

/ skwɪʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to crush, esp so as to make a soft splashing noise

2. (intr) (of mud, etc) to make a splashing noise

   the ground squishes as you tread

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noun

1. a soft squashing sound

   the ripe peach fell with a squish

Other Word Forms

• squished adjective

Etymology

Origin of squish

First recorded in 1640–50; alteration of squash ¹

Explanation

When you squish through a muddy field, your feet make sucking, sloppy sounds as they move. If your sneakers get wet in the rain, you'll have to squish down the street. The verb squish is perfect for describing a walk through any muddy or wet situation. People squish through puddles and in soggy shoes. You can also refer to the sound itself as a squish: "The squish of your boots in the hall told me it must have started raining again." Squish is imitative — in other words, it sounds exactly like its meaning. It's thought to be a variation on squash and influenced by the obsolete word squiss, "to squeeze or crush."

Example Sentences

When you think about your work and your company, Complexly, you don’t want to squish it down to the shortest version, right?

From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026

When you drag your knife through it, it should yield — not squish, not resist — just yield.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

Going up against a Goliath, they have a lot of strength to squish the Davids coming after them.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2024

Little ones can squish their fingers in the mud and explore all the different textures and smells as part of sensory play.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 3, 2024

I keep trying to squish my jacket in.

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden

Related Words

• scrunch