Set 193 · Study 1 / 5

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squelch

verb/skwɛltʃ/

definition

to suppress or silence something

example

The teacher tried to squelch the rumors spreading among the students by addressing them directly in class.

synonyms
quashsilencesuppress
word origin — Origin unknown, possibly imitative of the sound of something being squashed or crushed.

GRE Vocabulary — Set 193

Set 193 of GRE Vocabulary covers 5 words: squelch, shirk, shun, simper, squander. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. squelch · verb/skwɛltʃ/

    to suppress or silence something

    The teacher tried to squelch the rumors spreading among the students by addressing them directly in class.

    Synonyms: quash, silence, suppress

    Origin: Origin unknown, possibly imitative of the sound of something being squashed or crushed.

  2. shirk · verb/ʃɜrk/

    to avoid or neglect a duty or responsibility

    Despite knowing he had a project due, he continued to shirk his responsibilities, spending hours on social media instead.

    Synonyms: evade, neglect, dodge

    Origin: Originating from the Old Norse word 'skirja' meaning to 'divide' or 'make clear', it came to mean 'to shirk' or 'avoid' in the sense of avoiding work or responsibility.

  3. shun · verb/ʃʌn/

    to deliberately avoid or reject something or someone

    Many people shun processed foods in favor of fresh, organic options.

    Synonyms: avoid, evade, reject

    Origin: Middle English 'shonnen', from Old English 'scunian', meaning 'to shrink back' or 'to be afraid of'

  4. simper · verb/ˈsɪmpɚ/

    to smile in a silly or ingratiating manner

    She couldn't help but simper at his compliments, her cheeks turning slightly pink with flattery.

    Synonyms: smirk, grin, beam

    Origin: The word 'simper' originates from Middle English 'simperen', which is a frequentative form of 'sime', meaning to smile; it traces back to Old English 'sima' meaning 'to smile or laugh'.

  5. squander · verb/ˈskwɑːndər/

    to waste something, such as money or time, in a careless or reckless manner

    After receiving a generous bonus, he decided to squander the money on extravagant parties and luxury items.

    Synonyms: waste, dissipate, fritter away

    Origin: Originates from Middle English 'squandren', which is derived from the Old French 'esquander', meaning to waste or spend extravagantly.