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.

---

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

---

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

Example Sentences

“The Sikh community within trucking is really being squished in the middle of a battle between the state of California and the federal government,” said Kaur, whose father was a truck owner and operator.

From Los Angeles Times

When they squish their PB&J or peanut butter crackers together, the peanut butter does not smoosh into a smaller volume.

From Scientific American

“If it squishes, it’s very old, like you might have two to three days max.”

From Los Angeles Times

It is found almost everywhere in North America, sometimes in hundreds of swarms squished together.

From Salon

Infinite density can be found inside a black hole, where gravity is so intense that it squishes matter into a mind-bogglingly small space called a singularity.

From Scientific American

Related Words

• scrunch