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Glite Dictionary
to squash that rumor

to squash that rumor

5.9
To stop a rumor from spreading further
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : desmentir
  • The spokesperson issued a statement to squash that rumor before it could gain traction.

Examples

  • The company quickly acted to squash that rumor about impending layoffs.

  • We need to squash that rumor before it causes any more confusion at work.

  • It’s important to squash that rumor before it damages someone’s reputation.

  • Please squash that rumor before it spreads!

  • Don't squash that rumor!

  • The manager held a meeting to squash that rumor regarding the closure of the branch.

  • To maintain morale, the team decided to squash that rumor about budget cuts promptly.

Synonyms

to suppress
vsto squash that rumor
176 4.8

To stop public protest by force or by people in power

is a decisive prevention aimed at stopping further spread rather than general control
to squelch
vsto squash that rumor
11 7.8

Completely stop protests or criticism

is a decisive stop focused on preventing spread rather than total destruction
to tamp down
vsto squash that rumor
5 5.7

Reduce the strength of feelings or public anger

is a decisive stop intended to halt spread rather than just lessen intensity
to hush up
vsto squash that rumor
  • Informal
2 7.2

Stop people finding out about a mistake, crime, or embarrassing event

is a decisive public stop to prevent spread rather than secret concealment

Antonyms

to spread
750 1.6

To become known by many people

How Effective

to squash that rumor
5.9
to suppress
176 4.8
to refute
  • Formal
88 6.2
to deny
∞ 2.0
to downplay
59 5.3
to ignore
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

squash that rumor infinitive
squashed that rumor past
squashed that rumor past participle
squashing that rumor present participle
squashes that rumor third person singular

Morphology

squash + that + rumor

The verb 'squash' literally means to press or crush, and applied to an abstract target like a 'rumor' it is a metaphorical extension meaning to stop or suppress it; a learner who knows both words can often infer this figurative sense. However, because the use is metaphorical rather than strictly compositional, some learners may not immediately map the physical sense to the abstract action without exposure, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Squash that rumor uses a simple picture: think of squash as stepping on a bug or pressing fruit until it is flat so it cannot move or grow. So, to squash that rumor means 'to stop a rumor so it cannot spread'.