Word
quash
US/ˈkwɔʃ/
UK/kwˈɒʃ/
Definitions
01to suppress or put down
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to stop something by force, such as a protest, a rebellion, or a rumour.
v. to suppress or extinguish something completely, typically by force or authority.
“The government moved quickly to quash the rumours before they caused a panic.”
“The administration attempted to quash the growing rebellion by imposing a strict curfew and limiting public gatherings.”
Antonyms
02to reject legally
C1 · Advanced Law Formal · Technical
v. to officially state that a legal decision or document is no longer valid.
v. to set aside or annul a legal proceeding, subpoena, or conviction.
“The judge decided to quash the conviction after new evidence was found.”
“The high court moved to quash the subpoena, ruling that the requested documents were protected by attorney-client privilege.”
Real-World Examples
“Production had been approved by the previous Conservative government, but those decisions were quashed after a legal challenge by Greenpeace, leaving Labour ministers to decide whether drilling should go ahead.” “However, those decisions were quashed after a legal challenge from the campaign group Greenpeace, pending more detailed climate assessments.” Etymology
From Middle English quaschen, quasshen, cwessen, quassen, from Old French quasser, from Latin quassāre, under the influence of cassō (“to annul”), from Latin quatiō (“I shake”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₁t- (“to shake”) (same root for the English words: pasta, paste, pastiche, pastry). Cognate with Dutch kwetsen (“to hurt, injure”), German quetschen (“to crush, squash”), Spanish quejar (“to complain”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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