What does squish mean?
Squish means to press or compress something until it becomes soft, flattened, or narrower. The verb is especially appropriate for objects that yield under pressure, such as cushions, fruit, foam, paper, or wet clothing. It can also describe moving through mud or a confined space by forcing a way, often with a wet or muffled sound. As a noun, a squish is either the act of compressing something or the soft, often moist sound produced by doing so. The word is informal and sensory: its combination of pressure, softness, and sound makes it particularly effective in everyday speech, informal writing, and vivid descriptive contexts. Although “squish” can suggest firm compression, it usually implies that the material being pressed does not offer much resistance. The related adjective “squishy” is also common, especially for cushions, toys, and other things that give way when touched.
To compress or press something so that it becomes soft, flattened, or narrower; also, to move through or into something by forcing it aside.
"He squished through the narrow gap between the bushes."
Informal; often implies that the material being compressed is soft or yielding.
A soft squeeze or compression, or the sound produced by compressing a yielding material.
"With a wet squish, the boot sank into the mud."
Common chiefly in informal speech and descriptive writing.
Normally used as a mass noun for the sound or quality of squeezing; the plural is used for separate instances of the action or sound.
"Her shoes made two distinct squishes in the wet grass."
Squish captures the satisfying softness of something yielding under pressure—one squish, and the rigid thing is suddenly anything but.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does squish come from?
“Squish” is a relatively recent English word whose sound imitates the soft noise made when a yielding material is compressed. It developed in the 19th century through the kind of expressive, imitative word formation common in English for soft, indistinct noises. The verb developed earlier than the noun, which came to denote both a squeezing action and its characteristic sound.
Related word forms
How squish is actually used
The word is informal and often conveys a soft, yielding, or somewhat messy quality. It is especially common in speech and informal writing.
Easily confused with squish
Squish describes the action or effect of compressing something softly, whereas squelch often describes a wet, sliding or sucking sound.