To squash something is to crush or press it so it becomes flat, soft, or out of shape. It can also mean to stop an idea, action, or feeling very firmly.
From Middle English “squashen,” from Old French “esquasser” meaning “to crush, shatter,” from Vulgar Latin *“exquassare” meaning “to shake violently.” The word imitates the sound and feel of something being crushed.
Try Another Word