as in quelled
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
the dictator commanded the army to quash the uprising without mercy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in abolished
to put an end to by formal action
attorneys asked the court to quash the indictment
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of quashed
Tucker Reals, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
This story has been updated to clarify that the judge has recommended the subpoena be quashed.
—Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Binder said that the beef was seemingly quashed after Argo beat Lincoln for Best Picture at the 2013 Oscars.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Dec. 2025
The next day, the maps leaked to the press ahead of their official release, and Republicans attempted to block the redistricting in court — a challenge the California Supreme Court quashed days later.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Any hope that a 3-1 win over Cardiff City to progress to the Carabao Cup semi-finals would lighten Maresca’s mood were soon quashed post match.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
Moscow managed complex global intelligence operations, supplied arms to insurgents across the globe, quashed national liberation movements in Eastern Europe and the Baltics, and spread communist ideology around the world.
—Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2025
Lee quashed that theory, though.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 3 Dec. 2025
Years of obstruction by top officials have stalled an investigation into the incident and quashed hopes for justice.
—Claudio Lavanga, NBC news, 2 Dec. 2025
Verb
Iran's autocratic regime has quashed several previous waves of unrest, violently, and the source in Tehran told CBS News there was significant fear among many people that the current protests would draw a similar draconian crackdown.
—Cite this Entry
“Quashed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quashed. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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