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.
When you squash a bug or a rumor, you’re doing the same core action: applying so much pressure that it can’t keep its shape or spread. There’s also a sport called “squash,” named for the soft, easily squashed ball players use.
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