Quash and Squash

There are two verbs that are used incorrectly more often than they are used correctly: quash and squash.

Quash
The verb quash means to suppress, put down, extinguish, or nullify.

Examples:
The separatist rebellion was quashed.
His conviction was quashed by a subsequent appeal.
The rumors of her defection were quashed.


Squash
The verb squash means to flatten, squeeze, or press.


Examples:
With one blow from a folded newspaper, she squashed the spider.
My clothes, having been squashed in my suitcase too long, needed ironing.
When you opened the door so suddenly, he was squashed against the wall.

Mnemonic Device: 
Quell has much the same meaning as quash. Think of qu for quash and qu for quell.

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